Oct. 2, 2003

EAST LANSING, Mich. -

The Sports Information Office decided to take a look back at a few of the top games in Spartan Homecoming history.

1918 - MAC 13, Notre Dame 7
Right at the conclusion of World War I, Michigan Agricultural College played its final home game of the season against the heavily favored Fighting Irish of Notre Dame. Thousands of student-soldiers returned for the game at Old College Field, which was almost canceled due to rain. At game time the field was near unplayable, but the Aggies scored on their first possession of the game; however, the Irish took a 7-6 lead just before halftime. Just as in the first half, MAC began the second half by driving all the way down the field into the visitor's endzone, retaking the lead 13-7. Despite Notre Dame's efforts, the Aggies held their lead and upset the Irish for their first homecoming win.

1948 - MSC 61, Arizona 7

Seven different Michigan State players reached the endzone in a 61-7 Homecoming rout of Arizona. Both Lynn Chandnois and LeRoy Crane rushed for more than 100 yards in the Spartan victory. The MSC defense overpowered Arizona, limiting it to less than 100 yards of total offense and intercepting passers four times. To date (2003), these teams have met three times; MSU has won all three games, outscoring Arizona 153-7.

1949 - MSC 24, Penn State 0

The Spartans gained 225 yards rushing and dominated the play of the game to top Penn State, 24-0. Michigan State receiver Bob Carey caught two touchdown passes to guide the Spartans to victory.

1953 - MSU 47, Indiana 18

On Oct. 17, 1953, Michigan State topped Indiana 47-18. Despite a close score in the first half, the Spartans pulled away in the second half, posting 21 unanswered points. Billy Wells and Ellis Duckett helped guide MSU to victory by scoring two touchdowns each. The 1953-54 team went on to top UCLA in the 1954 Rose Bowl 28-20, Michigan State's first-ever Rose Bowl victory.

1959 - MSU 14, Indiana 6

The Spartans dominated the first three quarters of the game, posting two touchdowns and taking a 14-0 lead. Indiana put together a scoring drive in the fourth quarter, making the score 14-6. On the next Spartan drive, the Hoosiers intercepted a pass and with less than two minutes remaining, were driving for a game-tying score. Facing their final play of the game on the Michigan State 38-yard line, the Hoosier quarterback launched a pass into the endzone. A Spartan defender picked off the pass and downed it in the endzone as time ran out.

1963 - MSU 30, No. 8 Wisconsin 13

The unranked Michigan State Spartans faced a tough test, playing host to the No. 8 Wisconsin Badgers on Homecoming in 1963. Early in the first quarter Spartan quarterback Stephen Juday completed an 87-yard touchdown pass to Sherman Lewis to give MSU the early lead. Wisconsin answered with a quick touchdown to take the lead 7-6. Just before halftime, the Spartans retook the lead, 12-7. In the third quarter, MSU managed to hold a one-touchdown lead, and broke open the game against the ranked Badgers in the fourth quarter when they posted 10 points. MSU won the game, 30-13.

1984 - MSU 13, Indiana 6

Indiana kicked field goals in the second and third quarters to jump out to a 6-0 advantage, but the Spartans took the lead on a touchdown pass early in the fourth quarter. The Michigan State defense kept the ball out of their endzone despite late Hoosier drives. Fullback Carl Butler sealed the game for the Spartans with a 61-yard touchdown run to give the Green and White the 13-6 edge over Indiana.

1987 - MSU 14, Illinois 14

Illinois took an early lead in the first quarter, but the Spartans answered just before halftime to tie the game at 7. The game was a stalemate through the third quarter, but Illinois regained the lead early in the fourth Illinois. With four minutes left in the fourth quarter, MSU quarterback Bobby McAllister ran the ball in to knot the game at 14. Neither team managed to score again, and the game was the only blemish on Michigan State's Big Ten record that year. In 1987, the Spartans chalked up a 7-0-1 record, a Big Ten Championship, and a trip to the Rose Bowl where they defeated USC, 20-17.

1998 - MSU 38, Indiana 31 (2 OT)

Despite taking a 10-0 lead at the end of the first quarter, the Spartans lost it as they allowed Indiana to score 24 unanswered points in the third quarter and the beginning of the fourth. With Michigan State trailing 24-16 late in the fourth quarter, Bill Burke led the Spartans down the field and completed a 12-yard touchdown pass to Gari Scott. Burke kept the ball for the two-point conversion and the Spartans tied the Hoosiers 24. Indiana scored on their first possession in overtime, taking the lead and forcing the Spartans to score. On Michigan State's first play, Plaxico Burress caught a 25-yard touchdown pass to tie the game at 31-31. In the second overtime, MSU's Sedrick Irvin made several Hoosier defenders miss and took the ball all the way to the endzone. The two consecutive touchdown plays lifted the Spartans past Indiana, as Michigan State's defense prevailed on the Hoosiers' final possession.

2001 - MSU 31, Iowa 28

Wide receiver Herb Haygood scored two touchdowns in Michigan State's 31-28 win, including a 100-yard touchdown kickoff return. The Spartans' defense, led by Josh Thornhill who recorded 16 tackles and the secondary, which intercepted two passes, held off the Hawkeyes' late attempts to tie the game. MSU kicker Dave Rayner converted four extra points and one field goal in the win.