2009 Michigan State Spartans football team

The 2009 Michigan State Spartans football team competed on behalf of the Michigan State University in the 2009 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The Spartans were coached by Mark Dantonio, who was in his third season with the Spartans. Michigan State played their home games in Spartan Stadium in East Lansing, Michigan.

2009 Michigan State Spartans football
Alamo Bowl, L 31–41 vs. Texas Tech
Conference	Big Ten Conference
Record	6–7 (4–4 Big Ten)
Head coach	Mark Dantonio (3rd season)
Offensive coordinator	Don Treadwell (3rd season)
Defensive coordinator	Pat Narduzzi (3rd season)
Home stadium	Spartan Stadium

2009 Big Ten Conference football standings

	Conf							Overall
Team		W		L					W		L
No. 5 Ohio State $		7	–	1					11	–	2
No. 7 Iowa %		6	–	2					11	–	2
No. 9 Penn State		6	–	2					11	–	2
Northwestern		5	–	3					8	–	5
No. 16 Wisconsin		5	–	3					10	–	3
Michigan State		4	–	4					6	–	7
Purdue		4	–	4					5	–	7
Minnesota		3	–	5					6	–	7
Illinois		2	–	6					3	–	9
Michigan		1	–	7					5	–	7
Indiana		1	–	7					4	–	8
$ – BCS representative as conference champion % – BCS at-large representative Rankings from AP Poll

Recruiting class

College recruiting information

Name	Hometown	High school / college	Height	Weight	40‡	Commit date
Denicos Allen LB	Hamilton, Ohio	Hamilton (OH)	6 ft 0 in (1.83 m)	205 lb (93 kg)	4.56	Oct 7, 2008
	Star ratings: Scout:   Rivals:   247Sports: N/A    ESPN grade: 77
Edwin Baker RB	Oak Park, Michigan	Oak Park (MI)	5 ft 10 in (1.78 m)	200 lb (91 kg)	4.40	Feb 26, 2008
	Star ratings: Scout:   Rivals:   247Sports: N/A    ESPN grade: 81
David Barrent OT	West Des Moines, Iowa	Valley (IA)	6 ft 7 in (2.01 m)	285 lb (129 kg)	–	Jul 29, 2008
	Star ratings: Scout:   Rivals:   247Sports: N/A    ESPN grade: 82
Larry Caper RB	Battle Creek, Michigan	Battle Creek Central (MI)	5 ft 11 in (1.80 m)	220 lb (100 kg)	4.55	Mar 6, 2008
	Star ratings: Scout:   Rivals:   247Sports: N/A    ESPN grade: 80
Henry Conway OT	Shaker Heights, Ohio	Shaker Heights (OH)	6 ft 6 in (1.98 m)	300 lb (140 kg)	5.10	Jan 21, 2008
	Star ratings: Scout:   Rivals:   247Sports: N/A    ESPN grade: 77
Dana Dixon WR	Detroit, Michigan	Renaissance (MI)	6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)	175 lb (79 kg)	4.55	Jun 20, 2008
	Star ratings: Scout:   Rivals:   247Sports: N/A    ESPN grade: 73
Denzel Drone LB	Plant City, Florida	Plant City (FL)	6 ft 1 in (1.85 m)	225 lb (102 kg)	4.65	Jan 25, 2009
	Star ratings: Scout:   Rivals:   247Sports: N/A    ESPN grade: 68
Bennie Fowler WR	Beverly Hills, Michigan	Detroit Country Day (MI)	6 ft 1 in (1.85 m)	185 lb (84 kg)	4.4	Jul 12, 2008
	Star ratings: Scout:   Rivals:   247Sports: N/A    ESPN grade: 77
Dan France OT	North Royalton, Ohio	North Royalton (OH)	6 ft 6 in (1.98 m)	270 lb (120 kg)	4.9	Aug 3, 2008
	Star ratings: Scout:   Rivals:   247Sports: N/A    ESPN grade: 73
Corey Freeman DE	University Heights, Ohio	Cleveland Heights (OH)	6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)	235 lb (107 kg)	4.55	Feb 4, 2009
	Star ratings: Scout:   Rivals:   247Sports: N/A    ESPN grade: 40
Jeremy Gainer LB	Livonia, Michigan	Clarenceville (MI)	6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)	210 lb (95 kg)	4.50	Dec 18, 2008
	Star ratings: Scout:   Rivals:   247Sports: N/A    ESPN grade: 75
Tyquan Hammock LB	Fort Wayne, Indiana	Bishop Luers (IN)	6 ft 1 in (1.85 m)	215 lb (98 kg)	4.7	Jul 22, 2008
	Star ratings: Scout:   Rivals:   247Sports: N/A    ESPN grade: 75
Derek Hoebing TE	Vermilion, Ohio	Vermilion (OH)	6 ft 6 in (1.98 m)	245 lb (111 kg)	4.9	Jul 13, 2008
	Star ratings: Scout:   Rivals:   247Sports: N/A    ESPN grade: 67
Jairus Jones S	Tampa, Florida	Wharton (FL)	6 ft 1 in (1.85 m)	205 lb (93 kg)	4.60	Jan 31, 2009
	Star ratings: Scout:   Rivals:   247Sports: N/A    ESPN grade: 78
Nate Klatt C	Canal Fulton, Ohio	Northwest (OH)	6 ft 4 in (1.93 m)	280 lb (130 kg)	5.4	Jul 7, 2008
	Star ratings: Scout:   Rivals:   247Sports: N/A    ESPN grade: 75
Andrew Maxwell QB	Midland, Michigan	Midland (MI)	6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)	185 lb (84 kg)	4.9	Mar 2, 2008
	Star ratings: Scout:   Rivals:   247Sports: N/A    ESPN grade: 80
Kevin Muma K	Troy, Michigan	Troy (MI)	5 ft 10 in (1.78 m)	175 lb (79 kg)	–	Jan 19, 2009
	Star ratings: Scout:   Rivals:   247Sports: N/A    ESPN grade: 75
Chris Norman LB	Detroit, Michigan	Renaissance (MI)	6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)	220 lb (100 kg)	4.60	Feb 5, 2009
	Star ratings: Scout:   Rivals:   247Sports: N/A    ESPN grade: 79
Micajah Reynolds OG	Lansing, Michigan	J.W. Sexton (MI)	6 ft 5 in (1.96 m)	317 lb (144 kg)	5.10	Jun 24, 2008
	Star ratings: Scout:   Rivals:   247Sports: N/A    ESPN grade: 77
Dion Sims TE	Orchard Lake, Michigan	St. Mary's Prep (OH)	6 ft 5 in (1.96 m)	230 lb (100 kg)	4.60	Jan 13, 2008
	Star ratings: Scout:   Rivals:   247Sports: N/A    ESPN grade: 79
Donald Spencer WR	Ypsilanti, Michigan	Ypsilanti (MI)	6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)	192 lb (87 kg)	4.5	Feb 23, 2008
	Star ratings: Scout:   Rivals:   247Sports: N/A    ESPN grade: 78
Blake Treadwell C	East Lansing, Michigan	East Lansing (MI)	6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)	273 lb (124 kg)	4.90	Mar 16, 2008
	Star ratings: Scout:   Rivals:   247Sports: N/A    ESPN grade: 77
Patrick White WR	Pickerington, Ohio	Pickerington (OH)	5 ft 11 in (1.80 m)	171 lb (78 kg)	4.4	Jun 8, 2008
	Star ratings: Scout:   Rivals:   247Sports: N/A    ESPN grade: 74
Overall recruiting rankings: Scout: 37   Rivals: 17
Note: In many cases, Scout, Rivals, 247Sports, and ESPN may conflict in their listings of height and weight. In these cases, the average was taken. ESPN grades are on a 100-point scale. Sources: "2009 Team Ranking". Rivals.com. Retrieved October 6, 2009.

Schedule

This season saw the Spartans schedule a Division I FCS opponent (Montana State) for the first time since the NCAA split Division I football in 1978. This left Notre Dame, UCLA, USC, and Washington as the only Division I FBS teams to never have played a lower-division opponent since the split.

Date	Time	Opponent	Site	TV	Result	Attendance
September 5	12:00 p.m.	Montana State*	Spartan Stadium East Lansing, MI	BTN	W 44–3	74,518
September 12	12:00 p.m.	Central Michigan*	Spartan Stadium East Lansing, Michigan	ESPN2	L 27–29	76,221
September 19	3:30 p.m.	at Notre Dame*	Notre Dame Stadium Notre Dame, IN (Megaphone Trophy)	NBC	L 30–33	80,795
September 26	12:00 p.m.	at Wisconsin	Camp Randall Stadium Madison, WI	ESPN	L 30–38	80,123
October 3	12:00 p.m.	No. 22 Michigan	Spartan Stadium East Lansing, MI (Paul Bunyan Trophy)	BTN	W 26–20 OT	78,629
October 10	12:00 p.m.	at Illinois	Memorial Stadium Champaign, IL	BTN	W 24–14	62,870
October 17	12:00 p.m.	Northwestern	Spartan Stadium East Lansing, MI	ESPN2	W 24–14	71,726
October 24	7:00 p.m.	No. 6 Iowa	Spartan Stadium East Lansing, MI	BTN	L 13–15	74,411
October 31	8:00 p.m.	at Minnesota	TCF Bank Stadium Minneapolis, MN	BTN	L 34–42	50,805
November 7	12:00 p.m.	Western Michigan*	Spartan Stadium East Lansing, MI	BTN	W 49–14	73,910
November 14	12:00 p.m.	at Purdue	Ross–Ade Stadium West Lafayette, IN	ESPN	W 40–37	48,408
November 21	3:30 p.m.	No. 14 Penn State	Spartan Stadium East Lansing, MI (Land Grant Trophy)	ABC/ESPN	L 14–42	73,771
January 2, 2010	9:00 p.m.	vs. Texas Tech*	Alamodome San Antonio, TX (Alamo Bowl)	ESPN	L 31–41	64,757
*Non-conference game Homecoming Rankings from AP Poll released prior to the game All times are in Eastern time

Personnel

2009 Michigan State Spartans football team roster
Players			Coaches
Offense Pos. # Name Class QB 8 Kirk Cousins So	Defense Pos. # Name Class CB Jeremy Ware	Special teams Pos. # Name Class K Brett Swenson	Head coach Mark Dantonio Coordinators/assistant coaches Don Treadwell – Offenvie Coordinator/Wide Receivers coach Dave Warner – Quarterbacks coach Dan Enos – Running backs coach Mark Staten – Tight ends coach/Tackles/Recruiting Coordinator Dan Roushar – Offensive line coach Pat Narduzzi – Defensive Coordinator Ted Gill – Defensive line coach Mike Tressel – Linebackers coach/Special Teams Coordinator Harlon Barnett – Secondary coach Legend (C) Team captain (S) Suspended (I) Ineligible Injured Redshirt

Regular season

Montana State

1 2 3 4 Total Montana State 0 0 3 0 3 • Michigan State 7 21 6 10 44 Date: September 5 Location: Spartan Stadium East Lansing, MI Game start: 12:00 p.m. EDT Game attendance: 74,518 TV announcers (BTN): Dan Gutowsky (Play-by-play), Ron Johnson (Color) & Lisa Byington (Sideline)

Central Michigan

See also: 2009 Central Michigan Chippewas football team

1 2 3 4 Total • Central Michigan 3 10 0 16 29 Michigan State 10 7 3 7 27 Date: September 12 Location: Spartan Stadium East Lansing, MI Game start: 12:00 p.m. EDT Game attendance: 76,221 TV announcers (ESPN2): Pam Ward (Play-by-play) & Ray Bentley (Color)

Notre Dame

See also: 2009 Notre Dame Fighting Irish football team and Megaphone Trophy

1 2 3 4 Total Michigan State 3 14 6 7 30 • Notre Dame 13 3 10 7 33 Date: September 19 Location: Notre Dame Stadium Notre Dame, IN Game start: 3:30 p.m. EDT Game attendance: 80,795 TV announcers (NBC): Tom Hammond (Play-by-play), Pat Haden (Color) & Alex Flanagan (Sideline)

Wisconsin

See also: 2009 Wisconsin Badgers football team

1 2 3 4 Total Michigan State 0 7 10 13 30 • Wisconsin 7 14 3 14 38 Date: September 26 Location: Camp Randall Stadium Madison, WI Game start: 12:00 p.m. EDT Game attendance: 80,123 TV announcers (ESPN): Dave Pasch (Play-by-play), Bob Griese (Color) & Chris Spielman (Color)

Michigan

See also: 2009 Michigan Wolverines football team and Michigan–Michigan State football rivalry

1 2 3 4 OT Total Michigan 3 3 0 14 0 20 • Michigan State 7 3 3 7 6 26 Date: October 3 Location: Spartan Stadium East Lansing, MI Game start: 12:00 p.m. EDT Game attendance: 78,629 TV announcers (BTN): Wayne Larrivee (Play-by-play), Chris Martin (Color) & Brent Stover (Sideline)

Scoring summary 1 12:27 Michigan Jason Olesnavage 36-yard field goal Michigan 3–0 1 2:25 Michigan St Larry Caper 1-yard run (Brett Swenson kick) Michigan St 7–3 2 4:43 Michigan Jason Olesnavage 42-yard field goal Michigan St 7–6 2 0:00 Michigan St Brett Swenson 26-yard field goal Michigan St 10–6 3 6:09 Michigan St Brett Swenson 24-yard field goal Michigan St 13–6 4 14:49 Michigan St Glenn Winston 15-yard run (Brett Swenson kick) Michigan St 20–6 4 4:03 Michigan Darryl Stonum 60-yard pass from Tate Forcier (Jason Olesnavage kick) Michigan St 20–13 4 0:02 Michigan Roy Roundtree 9-yard pass from Tate Forcier (Jason Olesnavage kick) Tie 20–20 OT Michigan St Larry Caper 23-yard run Michigan St 26–20

Michigan came into the game 4–0 (1–0 Big Ten) and ranked #22, looking to reclaim the Paul Bunyan trophy after losing to MSU the previous year. Michigan State dominated the first 55 minutes of regulation, building a 20–6 lead. Michigan rallied with two TDs in the final minutes to send the game to OT, but MSU quickly intercepted a pass and running back Larry Caper rushed 23 yards through multiple tackles for the game-winning score.

Illinois

See also: 2009 Illinois Fighting Illini football team

1 2 3 4 Total • Michigan State 14 3 7 0 24 Illinois 0 0 7 7 14 Date: October 10 Location: Memorial Stadium Champaign, IL Game start: 12:00 p.m. EDT Game attendance: 62,870 TV announcers (BTN): Wayne Larrivee (Play-by-play), Chris Martin (Color) & Rebecca Haarlow (Sideline)

Northwestern

See also: 2009 Northwestern Wildcats football team

1 2 3 4 Total Northwestern 0 7 0 7 14 • Michigan State 0 0 17 7 24 Date: October 17 Location: Spartan Stadium East Lansing, MI Game start: 12:00 p.m. EDT Game attendance: 71,726 TV announcers (ESPN2): Pam Ward (Play-by-play) & Ray Bentley (Color)

Iowa

See also: 2009 Iowa Hawkeyes football team

1 2 3 4 Total • Iowa 0 3 0 12 15 Michigan State 3 0 3 7 13 Date: October 24 Location: Spartan Stadium East Lansing, MI Game start: 7:00 p.m. EDT Game attendance: 74,411 TV announcers (BTN): Wayne Larrivee (Play-by-play), Chris Martin (Color) & Lisa Byington (Sideline)

Final Seconds: With 2 seconds remaining in the game, on 4th and Goal from the Michigan State 7 and a half yard line, Iowa QB Ricky Stanzi snapped the ball and passed the ball to Iowa WR Marvin McNutt into the end zone as the time expired to win the game.

Minnesota

See also: 2009 Minnesota Golden Gophers football team

1 2 3 4 Total Michigan State 3 7 21 3 34 • Minnesota 14 7 7 14 42 Date: October 31 Location: TCF Bank Stadium Minneapolis, MN Game start: 8:00 p.m. EDT Game attendance: 50,805 TV announcers (BTN): Wayne Larrivee (Play-by-play), Chris Martin (Color) & Rebecca Haarlow (Sideline)

Western Michigan

See also: 2009 Western Michigan Broncos football team

1 2 3 4 Total Western Michigan 0 0 14 0 14 • Michigan State 21 14 7 7 49 Date: November 7 Location: Spartan Stadium East Lansing, MI Game start: 12:00 p.m. EST Game attendance: 73,910 TV announcers (BTN): Ari Wolfe (Play-by-play), Anthony Herron (Color) & Lisa Byington (Sideline)

Purdue

See also: 2009 Purdue Boilermakers football team

Michigan State at Purdue

1 2 3 4 Total • Michigan State 7 10 6 17 40 Purdue 10 10 7 10 37 Date: November 14 Location: Ross–Ade Stadium, West Lafayette, IN Game start: 12:00 p.m. EST Game attendance: 48,408 TV announcers (ESPN): Dave Pasch (Play-by-play), Bob Griese (Color) & Chris Spielman (Color) Source: ESPN

Scoring summary 1 14:53 MSU Chris L. Rucker 11-yard fumble return (Brett Swenson kick) MSU 7–0 1 10:58 PUR Keith Smith 26-yard pass from Joey Elliott (Carson Wiggs kick) Tied 7–7 1 3:42 PUR Carson Wiggs 20-yard field goal PUR 10–7 2 11:18 PUR Carson Wiggs 42-yard field goal PUR 13–7 2 9:59 MSU Andrew Hawken 4-yard pass from Kirk Cousins (Brett Swenson kick) MSU 14–13 2 5:47 PUR Ralph Bolden 9-yard run (Carson Wiggs kick) PUR 20–14 2 1:49 MSU Brett Swenson 28-yard field goal PUR 20–17 3 13:24 MSU Brett Swenson 52-yard field goal Tied 20–20 3 4:52 PUR Cortez Smith 3-yard pass from Joey Elliott (Carson Wiggs kick) PUR 27–20 3 1:06 MSU Brett Swenson 52-yard field goal PUR 27–23 4 11:52 PUR Ralph Bolden 1-yard run (Carson Wiggs kick) PUR 34–23 4 11:34 MSU B.J. Cunningham 73-yard pass from Kirk Cousins (Brett Swenson kick) PUR 34–30 4 6:59 MSU Blair White 9-yard pass from Kirk Cousins (Brett Swenson kick) MSU 37–34 4 2:38 PUR Carson Wiggs 49-yard field goal Tied 37–37 4 1:51 MSU Brett Swenson 21-yard field goal MSU 40–37

Penn State

See also: 2009 Penn State Nittany Lions football team and Land Grant Trophy

1 2 3 4 Total • Penn State 0 7 28 7 42 Michigan State 0 7 0 7 14 Date: November 21 Location: Spartan Stadium East Lansing, MI Game start: 3:30 p.m. EST Game attendance: 73,771 TV announcers (ABC/ESPN): Mike Patrick (Play-by-play), Craig James (Color) & Heather Cox (Sideline)

Alamo Bowl

See also: 2010 Alamo Bowl (January) and 2009 Texas Tech Red Raiders football team

1 2 3 4 Total Michigan State 7 7 14 3 31 • Texas Tech 7 13 7 14 41 Date: January 2 Location: Alamodome San Antonio, TX Game start: 9:00 p.m. EST Game attendance: 64,757 TV announcers (ESPN): Mike Patrick (Play-by-play), Bob Davie (Color) & Heather Cox (Sideline)

2010 NFL Draft

Only one Spartan was selected in the 2010 NFL draft. However, wide receiver Blair White signed with the Indianapolis Colts as an undrafted free agent.

Player	Round	Pick	Position	NFL Team
Jeremy Ware	7	215	Cornerback	Oakland Raiders