2001 Michigan State Spartans football team
{{short description|American college football season}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=August 2023}}
{{Infobox college sports team season
| year = 2001
| team = Michigan State Spartans
| sport = football
| image =
| image_size =
| conference = Big Ten Conference
| short_conf = Big Ten
| record = 7–5
| conf_record = 3–5
| head_coach = Bobby Williams
| hc_year = 2nd
| off_coach = Morris Watts
| oc_year = 11th
| off_scheme =
| def_coach = Bill Miller
| dc_year = 3rd
| def_scheme =
| mvp =
| captain =
| stadium = Spartan Stadium
| champion = Silicon Valley Football Classic champion
| bowl = Silicon Valley Football Classic
| bowl_result = W 44–35 vs. Fresno State
}}
{{2001 Big Ten Conference football standings}}
The 2001 Michigan State Spartans football team represented Michigan State University as a member of the Big Ten Conference during the 2001 NCAA Division I-A football season. Led by second-year head coach Bobby Williams, the Spartans compiled an overall record of 7–5 with a mark of 3–5 in conference play, tying for eighth place in the Big Ten. Michigan State was invited to the Silicon Valley Football Classic, where the Spartans defeated Fresno State. The team played home games at Spartan Stadium in East Lansing, Michigan.
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
{{CFB schedule
| rankyear = 2001
| poll = AP
| timezone = Eastern
|{{CFB schedule entry
| date = September 8
| time = 1:00 p.m.
| w/l = w
| nonconf = y
| opponent = Central Michigan
| site_stadium = Spartan Stadium
| site_cityst = East Lansing, MI
| tv =
| score = 35–21
| attend = 73,879
| source = {{cite news|title=Miscues don't cost MSU: Despite four blocked punts, three turnovers, Spartans too much for CMU, 35-21|newspaper=Lansing State Journal|author=Jack Ebling|date=September 9, 2001|pages=Sports 1, 3|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/99370819/miscues-dont-cost-msu-despite-four/|via=Newspapers.com}}
}}
|{{CFB schedule entry
| date = September 22
| time = 2:30 p.m.
| w/l = w
| nonconf = y
| away = y
| opponent = Notre Dame
| opprank = 23
| site_stadium = Notre Dame Stadium
| site_cityst = Notre Dame, IN
| tv = NBC
| gamename = rivalry
| score = 17–10
| attend = 80,795
}}
|{{CFB schedule entry
| date = September 29
| time = 3:30 p.m.
| w/l = l
| away = y
| rank = 23
| opponent = Northwestern
| opprank = 16
| site_stadium = Ryan Field
| site_cityst = Evanston, IL
| tv = ABC
| score = 26–27
| attend = 40,103
}}
|{{CFB schedule entry
| date = October 13
| time = 12:00 p.m.
| w/l = w
| homecoming = y
| opponent = Iowa
| site_stadium = Spartan Stadium
| site_cityst = East Lansing, MI
| tv = ESPN2
| score = 31–28
| attend = 73,680
}}
|{{CFB schedule entry
| date = October 20
| time = 12:00 p.m.
| w/l = l
| away = y
| opponent = Minnesota
| site_stadium = Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome
| site_cityst = Minneapolis, MN
| tv =
| score = 19–28
| attend = 47,385
}}
|{{CFB schedule entry
| date = October 27
| time = 12:00 p.m.
| w/l = w
| away = y
| opponent = Wisconsin
| site_stadium = Camp Randall Stadium
| site_cityst = Madison, WI
| tv = ESPN Plus
| score = 42–28
| attend = 79,108
}}
|{{CFB schedule entry
| date = November 3
| time = 3:30 p.m.
| w/l = w
| opponent = Michigan
| opprank = 6
| site_stadium = Spartan Stadium
| site_cityst = East Lansing, MI
| gamename = rivalry
| tv = ABC
| score = 26–24
| attend = 75,262
| source = {{cite news |title=Michigan vs. Michigan State|url=http://usatoday30.usatoday.com/sports/scores101/101307/101307384.htm|newspaper=USA Today|date=November 3, 2001|access-date=January 6, 2014}}
}}
|{{CFB schedule entry
| date = November 10
| time = 12:00 p.m.
| w/l = l
| rank = 22
| opponent = Indiana
| site_stadium = Spartan Stadium
| site_cityst = East Lansing, MI
| gamename = rivalry
| tv =
| score = 28–37
| attend = 73,990
}}
|{{CFB schedule entry
| date = November 17
| time = 12:00 p.m.
| w/l = l
| away = y
| opponent = Purdue
| site_stadium = Ross–Ade Stadium
| site_cityst = West Lafayette, IN
| tv = ESPN2
| score = 14–24
| attend = 55,660
}}
|{{CFB schedule entry
| date = November 24
| time = 3:30 p.m.
| w/l = l
| opponent = Penn State
| site_stadium = Spartan Stadium
| site_cityst = East Lansing, MI
| gamename = rivalry
| tv = ESPN
| score = 37–42
| attend = 72,658
}}
|{{CFB schedule entry
| date = December 1
| time = 11:00 a.m.
| w/l = w
| nonconf = y
| opponent = Missouri
| site_stadium = Spartan Stadium
| site_cityst = East Lansing, MI
| tv = ESPN2
| score = 55–7
| attend = 72,823
}}
|{{CFB schedule entry
| date = December 31
| time = 3:00 p.m.
| w/l = w
| nonconf = y
| neutral = y
| opponent = Fresno State
| opprank = 20
| site_stadium = Spartan Stadium
| site_cityst = San Jose, CA
| gamename = Silicon Valley Football Classic
| tv = FSN
| score = 44–35
| attend = 30,456
}}
}}
Note: The Missouri game originally scheduled for September 15 was rescheduled to December 1 because of the September 11 attacks.
Roster
{{American football roster/Header
| year = 2001
| team = Michigan State Spartans
| teamcolors = f
| offensive_players=
{{American football roster/Player|num=1|class=So|first=Charles|last=Rogers|dab=Charles Rogers (wide receiver)|pos=WR|link=y}}
{{American football roster/Player|num=8|class=Sr|first=T. J.|last=Duckett|pos=RB|link=y}}
{{American football roster/Player|num=9|class=So|first=Jeff|last=Smoker|pos=QB|link=y}}
{{American football roster/Player|num=76|class=Fr|first=Will|last=Whitticker|pos=G|link=y}}
{{American football roster/Player|num=83|class=Sr|first=Chris|last=Baker|dab=Chris Baker (tight end)|pos=TE|link=y}}
| defensive_players=
{{American football roster/Player|num=95|class=So|first=Matthias|last=Askew|pos=DE|link=y}}
{{American football roster/Player|num=42|class=So|first=Mike|last=Labinjo|pos=LB|link=y}}
{{American football roster/Player|num=44|class=Fr|first=Ronald|last=Stanley|pos=LB|link=y}}
{{American football roster/Player|num=95|class=Sr|first=Josh|last=Shaw|dab=Josh Shaw (defensive tackle)|pos=DT|link=y}}
| special_teams_players=
{{American football roster/Player|num=16|class=Fr|first=Dave|last=Rayner|pos=K|link=y}}
}}
{{American football roster/Footer|roster_url=https://web.archive.org/web/20011220005652/http://msuspartans.fansonly.com:80/sports/m-footbl/mtt/msu-m-footbl-mtt-num.html
| head_coach =
| asst_coach =
- 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)
| accessdate=
}}
References
{{Reflist}}
{{Michigan State Spartans football navbox}}
Category:Michigan State Spartans football seasons
Category:Silicon Valley Football Classic champion seasons
Michigan State Spartans football
{{collegefootball-2001-season-stub}}