Michigan Wolverine Football: UM v MSU Stat Sheet
How many times have you heard it? When it comes to this instate rivalry game, you can throw out the record book. Let’s do the analysis.
MSU defeated UM 14-4-2 from 1950-1969. In 1958, the Wolverines (#15) visited the heavily favored Spartans (#2) and the teams tied 12-12. The Green and White were so humiliated that they initially refused to keep the Paul Bunyan trophy.
Following the hire of Bo Schembechler in 1969, UM started a winning streak of eight straight games. Yet in 1978, the team (#5) fell to the unranked Spartans in Ann Arbor, 24-15. This contest marked a battle between to future MLB players, Kirk Gibson for the Spartans and Rick Leach for the Wolverines.
In 1984, the unranked Spartans again defeated the Wolverines (#13) 19-7, in Ann Arbor.
The two undefeated teams met at Michigan Stadium in 1990. This contest was sarcastically referred to by UM fans as #1 vs. no one. Michigan scored late in the game to bring the tally to 28-27 Spartans. The Wolverines chose to gamble with a two point conversion attempt, only to have the pass from Elvis Grbac to Desmond Howard ruled an incompletion. To this date, the Michigan faithful are still proclaiming that MSU defender Eddie Best was guilty of pass interference.
The trend continued in 1993, 1995 and 1999 in East Lansing. The lower ranked Spartans prevailed respectively, 17-7, 28-25 and 34-31.
The 2001 game in East Lansing will be forever crowned by Michigan fans as “Clockgate.” The #6 Wolverines visited Spartan Stadium with a 4-0 Big Ten record. The game seemed to be out of reach for the Green and White with three minutes remaining. But a fourth down pass to Charles Rogers was flagged for a face mask penalty, including an automatic first down for the Spartans. The offense marched down the field, thanks partly to another Wolverine penalty, with the ball being placed on the three yard line with one second left. A lob pass from Jeff Smoker to T.J. Duckett at the back of the end zone sealed the fate of the Wolverines, who lost 26-24. Reportedly, the Michigan broadcasters referred to the last second of the game as “staying on the board eternally,” while the Spartan fans referred to the same as “baby-whine-whines.”
In 2005, MSU was ranged in the top 25 and the Wolverines were not. The Wolverines won 34-31.
In 2009, UM was undefeated and ranked 25th nationally yet the Spartans (unranked) prevailed 27-20 in overtime.
In 2011, MSU (#23) defeated UM (#11) 28-14.
In last year’s contest, MSU (#22) thrashed UM (#21) 29-6.
Often referred to as “hate week,” the days leading up to this annual matchup are met with apprehension on both sides. Two Big Ten interstate schools face off on Saturday in one of the most highly anticipated games of the year. This event attracts more fans than any other college rivalry except UM-OSU. Based on their rankings, the Spartans have upset the Wolverines more than any other team, including Ohio State. Perhaps it is time for the Maize and Blue to step up and conquer. Let #39 Sione Houma show us the way.
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Written by GBMWolverine Writer — William Kennedy
Go Blue — Wear Maize!