The 1952 Michigan State Spartans football team was an American football team that represented Michigan State College as an independent during the 1952 college football season. In their sixth year under head coach Biggie Munn, the Spartans recorded a perfect 9–0 record, outscored opponents by a total of 312 to 84, and were recognized as the 1952 national champion. The season was part of a 28-game winning streak that began in October 1950 and continued until October 1953.
In the final AP Poll released on December 1, 1952, Michigan State was ranked No. 1 with 2,683 points, more than 400 points ahead of No. 2 Georgia Tech. The Spartans also finished with the No. 1 ranking in the final UPI coaches poll. The team was also recognized as the 1952 national champion in later analyses issued by the Boand System, DeVold System, Dunkel System, College Football Researchers Association, Helms Athletic Foundation, Litkenhous, National Championship Foundation, Sagarin Ratings, and Williamson System. It was Michigan State's first consensus national championship. Five other selectors chose Georgia Tech as national champion. It was also Michigan State's last year as a football independent, as the Spartans became a football member of the Big Ten Conference in 1953.
Four Michigan State players were recognized on the 1952 All-America college football team: back Don McAuliffe (first-team honors from the United Press, All-America Board, and Collier's); center Dick Tamburo (first-team honors from the Associated Press, Central Press Association, and International News Service); guard Frank Kush (first-team honors from the Associated Press); and end Ed Luke (second-team honors from the Associated Press).
The team's statistical leaders included quarterback Tom Yewcic with 941 passing yards, halfback Billy Wells with 585 rushing yards, end Ellis Duckett with 323 receiving yards, and halfbacks Don McAuliffe and Leroy Bolden with 54 points each.
Schedule
Personnel Roster
Howard Adams, guard Wayne Benson, fullback Alex Bleahu, tackle Doug Bobo, end Leroy Bolden, halfback Leo Boyd, halfback Bob Breniff, guard Hank Bullough, guard Rex Corless, halfback Don Cutler, tackle Paul Dekker, end Don Dohoney, end Rollie Dotsch, guard/tackle Ellis Duckett, end Jim Ellis, safety Chuck Fairbanks Larry Fowler, tackle Al Fracassa, quarterback Chuck Frank, tackle Don Kauth, end Joe Klein, tackle Frank Kush, guard Gene Lekenta, fullback Ed Luke, end Don McAuliffe, halfback Jack Morgan, tackle Morley Murphy, tackle Jim Neal, center Dick Panin, fullback Vince Pisano, halfback Bill Quinlin, end Don Schiesswohl, guard Gordon Serr, guard Evan Slonac, fullback Dick Tamburo, center Willie Thrower, quarterback Ed Timmerman, fullback Ray Vogt, halfback Doug Weaver, center Billy Wells, halfback John Wilson, halfback Johnny Wilson, quarterback Tom Yewcic, quarterback Bert Zagers, halfback
Coaching staff Head coach: Biggie Munn Assistant coaches: Duffy Daugherty, Dan Devine, Earle Edwards, Dewey King, Steve Sebo
1953 NFL draft Paul DekkerEnd3 27 Washington RedskinsDick TamburoCenter4 47 Cleveland BrownsEd TimmermanBack14 160 Washington RedskinsJim EllisBack25 299 Cleveland Browns
References