Boston College vs. Michigan State Football: A Historical Overview

The gridiron history between the Boston College Eagles and the Michigan State Spartans is a story spanning nearly a century, filled with infrequent matchups and memorable moments. Dating back to 1935, these two programs have only clashed four times. However, their fifth meeting is on the horizon, reigniting a series marked by close contests and significant implications for both sides.

Early Encounters and a Tie

The inaugural game between Boston College and Michigan State took place in 1935, with the Eagles securing an 18-6 victory on their home turf. The following year, in 1936, the teams met again in Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts, resulting in a 13-13 tie. This game occurred well before the introduction of overtime in 1996, leaving the score unresolved after four quarters.

A Saban-Led Victory

The sole Spartan victory in this series came in 1995 at Spartan Stadium, under the leadership of then-head coach Nick Saban. In his early career, Saban guided the Spartans to a 25-21 triumph over the Eagles.

The 2007 Champs Sports Bowl

The most recent encounter between Michigan State and Boston College occurred in the 2007 Champs Sports Bowl in Orlando, Florida. This game featured two future NFL quarterbacks: Brian Hoyer for the Spartans and Matt Ryan for the Eagles. Boston College prevailed with a 24-21 victory, as Ryan threw for 249 yards and three touchdowns. Despite a strong performance by Javon Ringer, who rushed for 105 yards, the Spartans fell short. This loss capped a 7-6 season for Michigan State in Mark Dantonio's second year as head coach.

A Look at Michigan State Football

The Michigan State Spartans football program represents Michigan State University (MSU) at the NCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) level. As members of the Big Ten Conference, the Spartans have a rich history dating back to their beginnings as a club sport in 1885 and gaining varsity status in 1896.

Early Years and the MIAA

The early teams at Michigan Agricultural College (MAC) competed in the Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association (MIAA), which was established in 1888. In 1884, Albion College and Michigan Agricultural played the first intercollegiate football game in Michigan. The MIAA's inaugural competitive season was in 1894. In those early years the MAC Aggies could only accomplish one outright league football championship (1905) and share another with Albion (1903). The first decade of the 20th century generally saw the MIAA and MAC being dominated by either Albion or Olivet Colleges.

Coaching Legends and National Championships

Throughout its history, Michigan State has been led by several notable coaches. Chester Brewer revolutionized the football program during three different stints as head coach: 1903-10, 1917, and 1919. Jim Crowley, one of Notre Dame's legendary Four Horsemen, served as the head football coach at Michigan State from 1929 to 1933. Charlie Bachman, another Notre Dame alumnus, succeeded Jim Crowley. Biggie Munn took over as head coach in 1947, leading the Spartans to national championships in 1951 and 1952. Duffy Daugherty, who replaced Munn in 1953, also achieved national championship success in 1965 and 1966.

Michigan State claims a total of six national championships, including two (1952, 1965) from the major wire-services: AP Poll and/or Coaches' Poll.

Biggie Munn: A Lasting Legacy

Biggie Munn's impact on Michigan State football is profound. His 1951 and 1952 squads won national championships, solidifying his place in Spartan history. Munn retired from coaching in 1953 to become Michigan State's athletic director, a position he held until 1971. Each year, the Michigan State Spartans football team presents the "Biggie Munn Award" to the team's most motivational player. MSU's Munn Ice Arena, built in 1974, is named in his honor. Munn was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame as a coach in 1959.

The Munn Era: Dominance and Innovation

In 1947, Munn and the Michigan State administration approached Notre Dame to have his Fighting Irish play the Spartans for the first time since 1921. Munn was the only coach to beat Notre Dame head coach Frank Leahy three years in a row (1950-52). The 1952 squad continued Munn's undefeated streak going 9-0. Michigan State won a national championship for the second year in a row and for the first time in school history were voted No. 1 in both the AP and Coaches' polls.

Duffy Daugherty and the "Football Factory"

Duffy Daugherty replaced Munn in December 1953, following Munn's retirement to become Michigan State's athletic director. Daugherty would serve as the head coach at Michigan State University from 1954 to 1972, where he compiled a career record of 109-69-5. Duffy's 1965 and 1966 teams won national championships. Duffy's tenure of 19 seasons at the helm of the Michigan State Spartans football team is the longest of any head coach in the program's history. During the 1950s, when Detroit was known as the world's leading automobile manufacturer, Michigan State was often referred to as the nation's "football factory".

The 1965 and 1966 Seasons

The 1965 and 1966 seasons were the high points in Daugherty's coaching tenure, if not in the history of Michigan State football. The 1965 team finished the regular season 10-0 and ranked first in the country, but was upset by UCLA in the 1966 Rose Bowl, 14-12. Nevertheless, Michigan State was named national champions by the UPI and the National Football Foundation. The 1966 team began the season 9-0 and headed into their final game ranked No. 2 against No. 1 Notre Dame at Spartan Stadium on November 19. The No. 1 vs. No. 2 showdown, dubbed "The Game of the Century" by national media, ended in a 10-10 tie.

George Perles and the Rose Bowl Victory

After returning from US Army active duty, George Perles returned to Michigan, where he enrolled at Michigan State University and played football under legendary coach Duffy Daugherty. In 12 years, he led the Spartans to two Big Ten Conference titles, seven bowl games and a victory in the 1988 Rose Bowl. The 1987 season marked the Spartans' last outright Big Ten title until 2013.

Nick Saban's Brief Tenure

Beginning in 1995, Saban moderately improved MSU's fortunes, taking the Spartans to minor bowl games (all of which they lost by double-digit margins) in each of his first three seasons. From 1995 to 1997, Michigan State finished 6-5-1, 6-6, and 7-5.

Mark Dantonio: A Modern Era of Success

On November 27, 2006, Mark Dantonio was hired from the University of Cincinnati to become Michigan State's new football head coach. Dantonio served as an assistant coach at MSU from 1995 to 2000 and was Ohio State's defensive coordinator during their 2002 national championship season. In 2010, Dantonio led MSU to earn a share of the Big Ten Championship after finishing the year in a three-way tie with Ohio State and Wisconsin. His 2011 team won their division and appeared in the inaugural Big Ten Football Championship Game. His Spartans would win outright Big Ten Championships in 2013 and 2015 with victories in the 2013 and 2015 Championship Games. On September 21, 2019, Dantonio became Michigan State's winningest coach with a 31-10 victory over Northwestern that gave him his 110th win at the program and moved him past Duffy Daugherty.

Read also: History of the BU Bridge

Recent Coaching Changes

On February 12, 2020, Mel Tucker was hired from the University of Colorado to become Michigan State's new football head coach. In 2021, helped by the transfer into the program of running back Kenneth Walker III, the Spartans again beat Michigan and started the season 8-0 and were ranked third in the initial College Football Playoff rankings. Michigan State announced it had hired Oregon State head coach Jonathan Smith on Nov. 25, 2023.

Spartan Stadium: A Historic Venue

Home games of the Spartans are played at Spartan Stadium. Until the 1920s, the Spartans played on Old College Field just northwest of the current stadium. In the early 1920s school officials voted to construct a new stadium. The new College Field was ready in the fall of 1923 with a capacity of 14,000. In 1935 the seating capacity was increased to 26,000 and the facility was dedicated as Macklin Field. The stadium boasts a capacity of 75,005, making it the Big Ten's 6th largest stadium and 23rd largest college football stadium in the country.

Looking Ahead: The Upcoming Matchup

As the Michigan State Spartans prepare to face the Boston College Eagles for the fifth time, the historical context adds an extra layer of intrigue to the game. The Spartans are 1-4-1 all time against Boston College and have not faced the Eagles in 17 years. The Eagles will once again host the Spartans at Alumni Stadium just as they had done nearly 100 years ago.

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