| 1980 Michigan State Spartans football | |
|---|---|
| Conference | Big Ten Conference |
| Record | 3–8 (2–6 Big Ten) |
| Head coach |
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| Offensive coordinator | Joe Pendry (1st season) |
| MVP | Steve Smith |
| Captain | Steve Smith, Rodney Strata, George Cooper, Bernard Hay |
| Home stadium | Spartan Stadium |
| Conf | Overall | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Team | W | L | T | W | L | T | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| No. 4 Michigan $ | 8 | – | 0 | – | 0 | 10 | – | 2 | – | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| No. 15 Ohio State | 7 | – | 1 | – | 0 | 9 | – | 3 | – | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| No. 17 Purdue | 7 | – | 1 | – | 0 | 9 | – | 3 | – | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Iowa | 4 | – | 4 | – | 0 | 4 | – | 7 | – | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Minnesota | 4 | – | 5 | – | 0 | 5 | – | 6 | – | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Indiana | 3 | – | 5 | – | 0 | 6 | – | 5 | – | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Wisconsin | 3 | – | 5 | – | 0 | 4 | – | 7 | – | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Illinois | 3 | – | 5 | – | 0 | 3 | – | 7 | – | 1 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Michigan State | 2 | – | 6 | – | 0 | 3 | – | 8 | – | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Northwestern | 0 | – | 9 | – | 0 | 0 | – | 11 | – | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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The 1980 Michigan State Spartans football team was an American football team that represented Michigan State University in the 1980 Big Ten Conference football season. The Spartans finished in ninth place in the Big Ten Conference (Big Ten), compiled a 3–8 overall record (2–6 against Big Ten opponents), and were outscored by their opponents by a combined total of 278 to 221.[1][2] The team's .273 winning percentage was the worst in program history since the winless 1917 season.[3] The team played its home games at Spartan Stadium in East Lansing, Michigan.
In January 1980, Michigan State hired Frank "Muddy" Waters as its new head football coach after Darryl Rogers resigned to take over as Arizona State's head coach. Waters had played for Michigan State from 1946 to 1949 and had been a head coach at Hillsdale College (1954–1973) and Saginaw Valley State (1975–1979).[4]
The team's statistical leaders included quarterback John Leister with 1,559 passing yards, Steve Smith with 667 rushing yards, Ted Jones with 568 receiving yards, and placekicker Morten Andersen with 57 points.[5] Punter Ray Stachowicz was selected by both the Associated Press (AP) and the United Press International (UPI) as a first-team player on the 1980 All-Big Ten Conference football team.[6][7][8] Several Michigan State players also ranked among the Big Ten leaders in various statistical categories, including the following:
- Morten Andersen ranked third in the Big Ten with 12 field goals made and a 66.7 field goal percentage, and seventh with 56 points scored.[9]
- John Leister ranked fourth in the Big Ten with 247 pass attempts and 14 interceptions, and fifth with 1,559 passing yards and 1,658 total yards.[9]
- Thomas Morris ranked second with 185 punt return yards and third with 7.1 yards per punt return.[9]
- Steve Smith ranked fourth with nine touchdowns from scrimmage and sixth with 180 plays from scrimmage and 54 points scored.[9]
- ^ "1980 Michigan State Spartans Schedule and Results". SR/College Football. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved November 8, 2016.
- ^ "2015 Michigan State Football Media Guide" (PDF). Michigan State University. p. 147. Archived from the original (PDF) on March 17, 2016. Retrieved July 4, 2016.
- ^ "Michigan State Spartans School History". SR/College Football. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved November 8, 2016.
- ^ Charlie Vincent (January 30, 1980). "Spartans pick Muddy Waters: Football coach is yet another surprise". Detroit Free Press. p. D1.
- ^ "1980 Michigan State Spartans Stats". SR/College Football. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved November 8, 2016.
- ^ "Herrmann All-Big Ten Quarterback". The Blade, Toledo, Ohio (AP story). December 2, 1980. p. 30.
- ^ "Herrmann Finally On All-Big Ten Unit". Kentucky New Era (AP story). December 2, 1980. p. 16.
- ^ "College Football: All-Big Ten". Detroit Free Press. November 25, 1980. p. 4D.
- ^ a b c d "1980 Big Ten Conference Year Summary". SR/College Football. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved November 2, 2016.