Wikipedia

1984 Michigan State Spartans football team

The 1984 Michigan State Spartans football team was an American football team that represented Michigan State University as a member of the Big Ten Conference during the 1984 Big Ten football season. In their second season under head coach George Perles, the Spartans compiled a 6–6 record (5–4 in conference games), tied for sixth place in the Big Ten, and were outscored by a total of 193 to 187. In three games against ranked opponents, they defeated No. 13 Michigan and No. 18 Iowa, but lost to No. 8 Ohio State. The Spartans played in the program's first bowl game since 1965, losing to Army in the 1984 Cherry Bowl.[1][2]

1984 Michigan State Spartans football
Cherry Bowl, L 6–10 vs. Army
ConferenceBig Ten Conference
Record6–6 (5–4 Big Ten)
Head coach
Defensive coordinatorNick Saban (2nd season)
MVPJim Morrissey
CaptainJim Morrissey
Home stadiumSpartan Stadium
Seasons
← 1983
1985 →
1984 Big Ten Conference football standings
Conf.Overall
TeamW L TW L T
No. 13 Ohio State $7–2–09–3–0
Illinois6–3–07–4–0
Purdue6–3–07–5–0
No. 16 Iowa5–3–18–4–1
Wisconsin5–3–17–4–1
Michigan State5–4–06–6–0
Michigan5–4–06–6–0
Minnesota3–6–04–7–0
Northwestern2–7–02–9–0
Indiana0–9–00–11–0
  • $ – Conference champion
Rankings from AP Poll

On offense, the Spartans gained an average of 141.5 rushing yards and 123.9 passing yards per game. On defense, and with Nick Saban in his second season as the Spartans' defensive coordinator, they held opponents to an average of 115.7 rushing yards and 212.9 passing yards per game. The team's individual leaders included quarterback Dave Yarema with 1,322 passing yards, Carl Butler with 581 rushing yards, wide receiver Mark Ingram Sr. with 21 receptions and 479 receiving yards, and kicker Ralf Mojsiejenko with 45 points scored (10 of 14 field goals, 15 of 20 extra points).[3]

Six Spartans were recognized by the Associated Press (AP) and/or the United Press International (UPI) on the 1984 All-Big Ten Conference football team: linebacker Jim Morrissey (AP-2; UPI-1); defensive back Phil Parker (UPI-1); running back Carl Butler (UPI-2); center Mark Napolitan (AP-2); defensive lineman Kelly Quinn (AP-2; UPI-2); and placekicker and punter Ralf Mojsienenko (AP-2; UPI-2).[4][5] Linebacker Jim Morrissey was the team captain and was also selected as the team's most valuable player.[6]

The team played its home games at Spartan Stadium in East Lansing, Michigan.

Schedule

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DateOpponentSiteResultAttendanceSource
September 8at Colorado*
W 24–2135,825[7]
September 15Notre Dame*
L 20–2476,919[8]
September 22at Illinois
L 7–4075,762[9]
September 29Purdue
  • Spartan Stadium
  • East Lansing, MI
L 10–1364,819[10]
October 6at No. 13 Michigan
  • Michigan Stadium
  • Ann Arbor, MI (rivalry)
W 19–7105,612[11]
October 13Indianadagger
  • Spartan Stadium
  • East Lansing, MI (rivalry)
W 13–663,890[12]
October 20No. 8 Ohio State
  • Spartan Stadium
  • East Lansing, MI
L 20–2375,133[13]
October 27at Minnesota
W 20–1347,427[14]
November 3Northwestern
  • Spartan Stadium
  • East Lansing, MI
W 27–1063,619[15]
November 10at No. 18 Iowa
W 17–1665,887[16]
November 17Wisconsin
  • Spartan Stadium
  • East Lansing, MI
L 10–2061,702[17]
December 22vs. Army*
L 6–1070,332[18]
  • *Non-conference game
  • daggerHomecoming
  • Rankings from AP Poll released prior to the game

Game summaries

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Notre Dame

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Team 1 234Total
• Fighting Irish 0 3714 24
Spartans 17 030 20
Scoring summary
Q1MSUButler 15 yard run (kick failed)MSU 6–0
Q1MSUButler 23 yard run (Ingram pass from Yarema)MSU 14–0
Q1MSUMojsiejenko 24 yard field goalMSU 17–0
Q2NDCarney 42 yard field goalMSU 17–3
Q3NDPinkett 40 yard pass from Beuerlein (Carney kick)MSU 17–10
Q3MSUMojsiejenko 43 yard field goalMSU 20–10
Q4NDJackson 8 yard pass from Beuerlein (Carney kick)MSU 20–17
Q4NDPinkett 5 yard run (Carney kick)ND 24–20

[19]

At Michigan

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Team 1 234Total
• Spartans 7 633 19
Wolverines 0 700 7
Scoring summary
Q1MSUButler 1 yard run (Mojsiejenko kick)MSU 7–0
Q2MSUMorse 87 yard punt return (kick failed)MSU 13–0
Q2MICHGarrett 1 yard run (Bergeron kick)MSU 13–7
Q3MSUMojsiejenko 49 yard field goalMSU 16–7
Q4MSUMojsiejenko 30 yard field goalMSU 19–7

[20]

Ohio State

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Team 1 234Total
• Buckeyes 3 677 23
Spartans 0 0614 20
  • Date: October 20
  • Location: Spartan Stadium
  • Game start: 1:00 p.m. EDT
  • Elapsed time: 2:45
  • Game attendance: 75,133
  • Game weather: Cloudy; 55 °F (13 °C); wind 12–17 mph (19–27 km/h) S
  • Referee: John Nealon
Scoring summary
Q12:14OHSTSpangler 36 yard field goalOHST 3–0
Q22:23OHSTSpangler 42 yard field goalOHST 6–0
Q20:10OHSTSpangler 30 yard field goalOHST 9–0
Q314:13OHSTByars 1 yard run (Spangler kick)OHST 16–0
Q39:03MSUMorse 2 yard pass from Yarema (kick failed)OHST 16–6
Q411:40MSUIngram 75 yard pass from Yarema (pass failed)OHST 16–12
Q44:44OHSTTomczak 1 yard run (Spangler kick)OHST 23–12
Q44:32MSUJackson 93 yard kickoff return (Rolle pass from Yarema)OHST 23–20

At Iowa

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Michigan State at #18 Iowa
Team 1 234Total
• Spartans 7 730 17
Hawkeyes 3 0013 16
  • Date: November 10
  • Location: Kinnick Stadium, Iowa City, Iowa
  • Game start: 1:10 p.m. CST
  • Elapsed time: 3:00
  • Game attendance: 65,887
  • Game weather: ~42 °F (6 °C), cloudy, possible rain and snow, Wind N 10–20 mph (16–32 km/h)
  • Referee: Otho Kortz
Scoring summary
Q17:29IOWANichol 24-yard field goalIOWA 3–0
Q11:55MSUL. White 2-yard run (Mojsiejenko kick)MSU 7–3
Q25:20MSURolle 7-yard pass from Yarema (Mojsiejenko kick)MSU 14–3
Q32:23MSUMojsiejenko 24-yard field goalMSU 17–3
Q49:18IOWAO. Gill 2-yard run (Nichol kick)MSU 17-10
Q40:44IOWAHayes 3-yard pass from Long (Long run failed)MSU 17–16

[21]

Vs. Army (Cherry Bowl)

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Team 1 234Total
• Cadets 0 703 10
Spartans 0 006 6
Scoring summary
26:31ARMYClarence Jones 4-yard run (Stopa kick)ARMY 7–0
48:40ARMYCraig Stopa 38-yard field goalARMY 10–0
44:19MSUBob Wasczenski 36-yard pass from Yarema (pass failed)ARMY 10–6

[22]

Personnel

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1984 Michigan State Spartans football team roster
Players Coaches
Offense
Pos.#NameClass
TE 95 Veno Belk Jr
WR 11 Mark Ingram So
C 60 Pat Shurmur Fr
RB 34 Lorenzo White Fr
OT 73 John Wojciechowski Jr
QB 14 Dave Yarema So
 Defense
Pos.#NameClass
LB 51 Anthony Bell Jr
LB 41 Shane Bullough So
LB 40 Jim Morrissey Sr
S 32 Phil Parker Jr
DE 93 Kelly Quinn Jr
CB 36 Lonnie Young Sr
 Special teams
Pos.#NameClass
P/K 2 Ralf Mojsiejenko Sr
P 23 Greg Montgomery Fr
Head coach
Coordinators/assistant coaches
    Legend
    • (C) Team captain
    • (S) Suspended
    • (I) Ineligible
    • Injured Injured
    • Redshirt Redshirt

    References

    edit
    1. ↑ "1984 Michigan State Spartans Schedule and Results". SR/College Football. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved April 23, 2026.
    2. ↑ "2025 Michigan State Football Media Guide" (PDF). Michigan State University. p. 205. Retrieved April 23, 2025.
    3. ↑ "1984 Michigan State Spartans Stats". SR/College Football. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved April 23, 2026.
    4. ↑ "Byars Unanimous All-Big Ten Choice". The Blade (Toledo). November 28, 1984. p. 36.
    5. ↑ "1984 All-Big Ten Football team". UPI.com. November 19, 1984.
    6. ↑ 2025 Media Guide, p. 300.
    7. ↑ "Spartans survive close call". Jackson Citizen Patriot. September 9, 1984. Retrieved April 12, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
    8. ↑ "Notre Dame nips Spartans". The Kalamazoo Gazette. September 16, 1984. Retrieved April 12, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
    9. ↑ "Illinois buries Spartans, 40–7". The Saginaw News. September 23, 1984. Retrieved April 12, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
    10. ↑ "MSU offense fails, losing streak at 3". The Flint Journal. September 30, 1984. Retrieved April 12, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
    11. ↑ "Reserve's TD sparks Michigan State over Michigan". The Courier-Journal. October 7, 1984. Retrieved April 12, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
    12. ↑ "Butler's late dash lifts Spartan spirits". Battle Creek Enquirer. October 14, 1984. Retrieved April 12, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
    13. ↑ "Buckeyes stay on path to Rose Bowl". The Akron Beacon Journal. October 21, 1984. Retrieved April 12, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
    14. ↑ "Bowl-hungry Spartans attack Gophers, 20–13". Detroit Free Press. October 28, 1984. Retrieved April 12, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
    15. ↑ "Freshman leads MSU to 5th win". The Grand Rapids Press. November 4, 1984. Retrieved April 12, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
    16. ↑ "Spartans knock Iowa from lead". The Cincinnati Enquirer. November 11, 1984. Retrieved April 12, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
    17. ↑ "Badgers bowl over Spartans". The Duluth News-Tribune & Herald. November 18, 1984. Retrieved April 12, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
    18. ↑ "Army wins Cherry Bowl". Detroit Free Press. December 23, 1984. Retrieved April 12, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
    19. ↑ Gainesville Sun. 1984 Sept 16.
    20. ↑ Tommy George (October 7, 1984). "MSU springs an upset, 19–7: Wolverines lose QB, too". Detroit Free Press. pp. 1F, 7F – via Newspapers.com.
    21. ↑ "OHIO ST. GRABS BIG TEN LEAD". The New York Times. November 11, 1984. Retrieved November 23, 2019.
    22. ↑ "ARMY WINS, 10-6, IN ITS BOWL DEBUT". The New York Times. December 23, 1984. Retrieved November 23, 2019.
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