Football has a long tradition at Michigan
State. Starting as a club sport in 1884, football gained varsity status
in 1896. In the 1950's, MSU led the nation in desegregation, allowing
black athletes in all sports. It won the Rose Bowl in 1954, 1956, and
1988. Today, the team competes in Spartan Stadium, a 72,027 person
football stadium in the center of campus. The current coach is John L.
Smith, who has an 18-18-0 record. MSU's traditional archrival is the
University of Michigan, against whom they compete for the Paul Bunyan
Trophy. MSU is traditionally the underdog, with a 28-65-5 record in the
annual game. Michigan State is one of three Big Ten teams to have an
annual non-conference football game against the Notre Dame. MSU's record
against the Fighting Irish is 25-43-1.
The Michigan State Spartans are the athletic teams that represent
Michigan State University. The school's athletic program includes 22
varsity sports teams. Their mascot is a Spartan warrior named Sparty.
The school colors are green and white. The university participates in
the NCAA's Division I-A and in the Big Ten Conference in all Varsity
sports except ice hockey, which competes in the Central Collegiate
Hockey Association. MSU's golf team won the Big Ten Championship in 1969
and again in 2005. Michigan State offers 14 varsity sports for men and
15 for women.[1] The university's current Athletic Director is Ron
Mason, who served as head hockey coach from 1979 to 2002, retiring with
a 608-261-64 record at MSU.[2] MSU's marching band plays the fight song
at every university event, and both students and alumni sing along.
Michigan State University is the only NCAA Divison One Athletic program
to have multiple National Championships in both football and basketball.
