The 1972 Michigan State Spartans football team was an American football team that represented Michigan State University as a member of the Big Ten Conference during the 1972 Big Ten football season. In their 19th and final season under head coach Duffy Daugherty, the Spartans compiled a 5–5–1 record (5–2–1 in conference games), finished in fourth place in the Big Ten, and outscored opponents by a total of 158 to 156. In four games against ranked opponents, they lost to No. 1 USC, No. 7 Notre Dame and No. 5 Michigan, and defeated No. 5 Ohio State.
On offense, the Spartans gained an average of 228.0 rushing yards and 65.8 passing yards per game. On defense, they gave up 151.1 rushing yards and 150.2 passing yards per game. The individual statistical leaders included quarterback George Mihaiu with 367 passing yards, halfback David Brown with 575 rushing yards, and tight end Billy Joe DuPree with 23 receptions and 406 receiving yards.
Five Spartans were selected by either the Associated Press (AP) or the United Press International (UPI) as first-team players on the 1972 All-Big Ten Conference football team: tight end Billy Joe Dupree (AP-2, UPI-1); offensive guard Joe DeLamielleure (AP-1, UPI-1); linebacker Gail Clark (AP-1, UPI-1); and defensive backs Bill Simpson (AP-1, UPI-1) and Brad Van Pelt (AP-1, UPI-1). Gail Clark was selected as the team's most valuable player.2025 Media Guide, p. 300.
On November 3, 1972, Duffy Daugherty announced that he would resign as Michigan State's head football coach at the end of the 1972 season. In 19 years as the head coach, he compiled a 109–69–5 record and won two Big Ten championships. Denny Stolz, who had been the Spartans' defensive coordinator for two years, was hired in December 1972 to replace Daugherty.
The team played its home games at Spartan Stadium in East Lansing, Michigan.
Schedule
Game summaries Michigan
On October 14, 1972, Michigan State lost to Michigan, 10–0, in front of a crowd of 103,735 at Michigan Stadium. The game was Michigan's first shutout victory over Michigan State since 1947. Michigan scored on a 22-yard field goal by Mike Lantry in the second quarter and a 58-yard touchdown run by Gil Chapman in the fourth quarter. The Wolverines totaled 334 rushing yards, including 107 by Ed Shuttlesworth, 81 by Chuck Heater, and 64 by Dennis Franklin. The Spartans had a 24-yard touchdown run called back due to a clipping penalty, and their only other scoring threat ended when a hit from Dave Brown forced the Spartans' ball carrier to fumble into the end zone.
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