American college football season
2001 Michigan State Spartans football Conference Big Ten Conference 2001 record 7–5 (3–5 Big Ten) Head coach Offensive coordinator Morris Watts (3rd season)Defensive coordinator Bill Miller (3rd season)Home stadium Spartan Stadium (c. 71,007 AstroTurf)Seasons
The 2001 Michigan State Spartans football team represented Michigan State University in the 2001 NCAA Division I-A football season . The Spartans played their home games at Spartan Stadium in East Lansing, Michigan . This was the second year for head coach Bobby Williams , who led the Spartans to a 7-5 record including a 44–35 victory in the 2001 Silicon Valley Football Classic over the Fresno State Bulldogs of the Western Athletic Conference .
The controversial final play of the home game against Michigan on November 3 led to a change in the official timekeeping policy of the Big Ten Conference. Beginning in 2002, a neutral official appointed by the Big Ten keeps track of the game time on the field.
Schedule [ ]
Date Time Opponent Rank Site TV Result Attendance September 8 1:00 p.m. Central Michigan * W 35–2173,879
September 22 2:30 p.m. at No. 23 Notre Dame * NBC W 17–1080,795
September 29 3:30 p.m. at No. 16 Northwestern No. 23 ABC L 26–2740,103
October 13 12:00 p.m. Iowa Spartan Stadium East Lansing, MI ESPN2 W 31–2873,680
October 20 12:00 p.m. at Minnesota L 19–2847,385
October 27 12:00 p.m. at Wisconsin ESPN+ W 42–2879,108
November 3 3:30 p.m. No. 6 Michigan Spartan Stadium East Lansing, MI (Paul Bunyan Trophy ) ABC W 26–24 75,262[1]
November 10 12:00 p.m. Indiana No. 22 Spartan Stadium East Lansing, MI (Old Brass Spittoon ) L 28–3773,990
November 17 12:00 p.m. at Purdue ESPN2 L 14–2455,660
November 24 3:30 p.m. Penn State Spartan Stadium East Lansing, MI (Land Grant Trophy ) ESPN L 37–4272,658
December 1 11:00 a.m. Missouri * Spartan Stadium East Lansing, MI ESPN2 W 55–772,823
December 31 3:00 p.m. vs. No. 20 Fresno State * FSN W 44–3530,456[2]
*Non-conference game HomecomingRankings from AP Poll released prior to the game All times are in Eastern time
NOTE: Missouri game originally scheduled for Sept 15 rescheduled to Dec 1 because of 9/11 attacks
Roster [ ]
2001 Michigan State Spartans football team roster
Players
Coaches
Offense
Defense
Special teams
Head coach
Coordinators/assistant coaches
Morris Watts – Offensive Coordinator
Reggie Mitchell – Running backs coach
Don Treadwell – Wide receivers coach
Pat Perles – Tight ends coach
Jeff Stoutland – Offensive line coach
Brad Miller – Defensive Coordinator
Sal Sunseri – Special teams coordinator/Linebackers coach
Troy Douglas – Defensive backs coach
Brad Lawing – Recruiting coordinator
Matt House – Graduate Assistant
Legend
(C) Team captain
(S) Suspended
(I) Ineligible
Injured
Redshirt
Roster
References [ ]
Venues Bowls & rivalries Culture & lore People Seasons National championship seasons in bold