Michigan State Football History

The Seeds are Planted

has fielded a football team since 1896. The team then did not have a coach in its first season and posted a 1-2-1 record. Henry Keep was the schools first coach and posted an 8-5-1 record over 2 seasons. The two coaches who followed also coached the team’s basketball squads. Coach Charles O. Bemies posted a 3-7-1 record and George Denman went 7-9-1.

Building the Foundation with Chester Brewer

The university really began to build the football program to new heights beginning in 1903 when Chester Brewer took over for George Denman. Chester coached from 1903-1910 and then again in 1917 and 1919. He compiled a 58-23-7 record over 10 seasons.

Coach Brewer was a very busy man, also coaching the men’s basketball and baseball teams. In 1991, he left the school to coach at the University of Missouri. He served in World War I directing training camp activities at universities around the country. After the war, he returned to Michigan Agricultural College to coach the 1917 and 1919 football teams.

After 10 years of Mediocrity, Success Comes Calling

The school did not experience great success again with the football team until the 1929 when James Crowley went 22-8-3 over 4 seasons. In 1933, Charles Bachman took over. He did a great job with his teams and brought stability to the football program. His tenure of 13 seasons at the helm of the football team is only second to who coached 19 seasons. Charles Bachman’s football teams at MSU posted a 70-34-10 record.

Charles Bachman retired at the end of his 13th season after the team went a disappointing 5-5. At the team banquet he retired and predicted greatness for the team. New talent was coming into the program after the war ended and many of these young men were in their early to mid 20’s.

transforms MSU into a National Football Power

Clarence “Biggie” Munn was the man hired to help groom these young men into a powerhouse football school. Biggie and his team were destroyed by the University of Michigan coached by Fritz Crisler 55-0 in his coaching debut. The team lost the following game to Kentucky coached by Paul “Bear” Bryant 7-6. The team rebounded to win the final 7 games in a row and finish 7-2.

In 1951, the MSU team was ranked second in both wire service polls while the 1952 team won the National Championship and was ranked number one in both polls. This run included 28 straight wins. Ironically, Biggie is known to have said the 1951 team was stronger than the 1952 National Championship team. In 1953, the team won the Rose Bowl with a come from behind victory over UCLA 28-20.

That game culminated a remarkable career for Biggie Munn. In just seven seasons, he posted a 54-9-2 record and propelled MSU into gridiron prominence. Clarence moved in to the athletic director’s job as Ralph Young announced his retirement. One of his assistants Duffy Daugherty was named head coach. Don’t ever forget one of Biggie’s greatest quotes: “The difference between good and great is a little extra effort”.

Continued – Part 2 of 4

Coaching Records
– Part 1 of 4
Michigan State Football History – Part 2 of 4
Michigan State Football History – Part 3 of 4
Michigan State Football History – Part 4 of 4

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