1995 Michigan State Spartans football team

1995 Michigan State Spartans football
Independence Bowl, L 26–45 vs. LSU
Conference	Big Ten Conference
Record	6–5–1 (4–3–1 Big Ten)
Head coach	Nick Saban (1st season)
Offensive coordinator	Gary Tranquill (1st season)
Offensive scheme	Pro set
Defensive coordinator	Dean Pees (1st season)
Base defense	4–3
MVP	Scott Greene
Captain	Yakini Allen, Tony Banks, Scott Greene
Home stadium	Spartan Stadium

1995 Big Ten Conference football standings

	Conf							Overall
Team	W		L		T			W		L		T
No. 8 Northwestern $	8	–	0	–	0			10	–	2	–	0
No. 6 Ohio State	7	–	1	–	0			11	–	2	–	0
No. 13 Penn State	5	–	3	–	0			9	–	3	–	0
No. 17 Michigan	5	–	3	–	0			9	–	4	–	0
Michigan State	4	–	3	–	1			6	–	5	–	1
No. 25 Iowa	4	–	4	–	0			8	–	4	–	0
Illinois	3	–	4	–	1			5	–	5	–	1
Wisconsin	3	–	4	–	1			4	–	5	–	2
Purdue	2	–	5	–	1			4	–	6	–	1
Minnesota	1	–	7	–	0			3	–	8	–	0
Indiana	0	–	8	–	0			2	–	9	–	0
$ – Conference champion Rankings from AP Poll

The 1995 Michigan State Spartans football team competed on behalf of Michigan State University as member of the Big Ten Conference during the 1995 NCAA Division I-A football season. Led by first-year head coach Nick Saban, the Spartans compiled an overall record of 6–5–1 with a mark of 4–3–1 in conference play, placing fifth in Big Ten. Michigan State was invited to the Independence Bowl, where they lost on December 29 to LSU. The team played home games at Spartan Stadium in East Lansing, Michigan.

Schedule

Date	Time	Opponent	Site	TV	Result	Attendance	Source
September 9	12:00 p.m.	No. 2 Nebraska*	Spartan Stadium East Lansing, MI	ABC	L 10–50	73,891
September 16	12:00 p.m.	at Louisville*	Cardinal Stadium Louisville, KY		W 30–7	34,027
September 23	2:30 p.m.	at Purdue	Ross–Ade Stadium West Lafayette, IN	ABC	T 35–35	43,070
September 30	12:00 p.m.	Boston College*	Spartan Stadium East Lansing, MI	ABC	W 25–21	72,981
October 7	12:00 p.m.	Iowa	Spartan Stadium East Lansing, MI	Creative	L 7–21	73,732
October 14	12:00 p.m.	at Illinois	Memorial Stadium Champaign, IL	Creative	W 27–21	65,653
October 21	1:00 p.m.	Minnesota	Spartan Stadium East Lansing, MI		W 34–31	70,123
October 28	12:00 p.m.	at Wisconsin	Camp Randall Stadium Madison, WI	Creative	L 14–45	78,043
November 4	3:30 p.m.	No. 7 Michigan	Spartan Stadium East Lansing, MI (rivalry)	ABC	W 28–25	74,667
November 11	1:00 p.m.	at Indiana	Memorial Stadium Bloomington, IN (rivalry)		W 31–13	24,027
November 25	3:30 p.m.	No. 14 Penn State	Spartan Stadium East Lansing, MI (rivalry)	ESPN	L 20–24	66,189
December 29	5:30 p.m.	vs. LSU*	Independence Stadium Shreveport, LA (Independence Bowl)	ESPN	L 26–45	48,835
*Non-conference game Homecoming Rankings from AP Poll released prior to the game All times are in Eastern time

Roster

1995 Michigan State Spartans football team roster
Players			Coaches
Offense Pos. # Name Class QB 12 Tony Banks WR 80 Derrick Mason Jr WR 1 Muhsin Muhammad Sr	Defense Pos. # Name Class LB 22 Reggie Garnett Jr DT 96 Chris Smith Jr	Special teams Pos. # Name Class	Head coach Nick Saban Coordinators/assistant coaches Gary Tranquill – Offensive coordinator/quarterbacks coach Bobby Williams – Running backs coach Charlie Baggett – Wide receivers coach Jim Bollman – Offensive line coach Dean Pees – Defensive coordinator/inside linebackers coach Mark Dantonio – Defensive back coach Pat Shurmur – Special teams coach Brad Salem – Graduate assistant Mike Vorkapich – Graduate assistant Glenn Pires – Assistant Greg Colby – Assistant Legend (C) Team captain (S) Suspended (I) Ineligible Injured Redshirt

Game summaries

Nebraska

See also: 1995 Nebraska Cornhuskers football team

Nebraska Cornhuskers at Michigan State Spartans

Period	1	2	3	4	Total
Nebraska	10	10	16	14	50
Michigan State	7	0	3	0	10

at Spartan Stadium, East Lansing, Michigan

• Date: September 9, 1995
• Game time: 12:00 p.m. EST
• Game attendance: 73,891
• Box score and Game recap

Game information

First quarter NEB - FG K Brown 22 NEB - Phillips 2 run (K Brown kick) MSU - Muhammad 16 pass from Banks (C Gardner kick) Second quarter NEB - Phillips 1 run (K Brown kick) NEB - FG K Brown 47 Third quarter NEB - FG K Brown 20 MSU - FG C Gardner 24 NEB - Phillips 1 run (two-point conversion failed) NEB - Phillips 50 run (K Brown kick) Fourth quarter NEB - Green 57 run (K Brown kick) NEB - Sims 80 run (Retzlaff kick)

Louisville

See also: 1995 Louisville Cardinals football team

Michigan State Spartans at Louisville Cardinals

Period	1	2	3	4	Total
Michigan State	3	10	9	8	30
Louisville	0	7	0	0	7

at Cardinal Stadium, Louisville, Kentucky

• Date: September 16, 1995
• Game time: 12:00 p.m. EST
• Game attendance: 34,027
• Box Score

Game information
First quarter MSU - FG C Gardner 32 Second quarter UL - Tyson 2 pass from Lowe (Akers kick) MSU - S Greene 7 run (C Gardner kick) MSU - FG C Gardner 37 Third quarter MSU - Banks 19 run (two-point conversion failed) MSU - FG C Gardner 27 Fourth quarter MSU - S Greene 2 run (two-point conversion failed) MSU - Safety, Arrington tackled in end zone

Purdue

See also: 1995 Purdue Boilermakers football team

Michigan State Spartans at Purdue Boilermakers

Period	1	2	3	4	Total
Michigan State	14	6	8	7	35
Purdue	7	14	0	14	35

at Ross-Ade Stadium, West Lafayette, Indiana

• Date: September 23, 1995
• Game time: 2:30 p.m. EST
• Game attendance: 43,070
• Box Score

Game information

First quarter MSU - Mason 43 pass from Banks (C Gardner kick) PUR - Alford 29 pass from Reeves (Bobich kick) MSU - S Greene 21 run (C Gardner kick) Second quarter PUR - Alford 69 pass from Alstott (Bobich kick) PUR - Alstott 6 run (Bobich kick) MSU - Mason 7 pass from Banks (kick failed) Third quarter MSU - S Greene 3 run (Banks run for two-point conversion) Fourth quarter PUR - Rogers 1 run (Bobich kick) MSU - S Greene 70 run (C Gardner kick) PUR - Rogers 4 run (Bobich kick) Top Rushers MSU - S Greene 17 rushes, 161 yards, 3 TDs PUR - Alstott 20 rushes, 136 yards, 1 TD Top Passers MSU - Banks 16/25, 208 yards, 1 INT PUR - Alstott 1/1, 69 yards, 1 TD PUR - Trefzger 9/15, 110 yards PUR - Reeves 9/16, 122 yards, 1 TD, 2 INTs Top Receivers MSU - Mason 7 receptions, 150 yards, 2 TDs PUR - Olivadotti 5 receptions, 73 yards PUR - Alford 4 receptions, 113 yards, 2 TDs

Boston College

See also: 1995 Boston College Eagles football team

Boston College Eagles at Michigan State Spartans

Period	1	2	3	4	Total
Boston College	0	15	6	0	21
Michigan State	3	6	13	3	25

at Spartan Stadium, East Lansing, Michigan

• Date: September 30, 1995
• Game time: 12:00 p.m. EST
• Game attendance: 72,981
• Box score and Game recap

Game information

First quarter MSU - FG C Gardner 27 Second quarter BC - Watson 38 run (Mcguire kick) MSU - Muhammad 34 pass from Schultz (kick failed) BC - Harding 4 pass from Hartsell (Hemmert reception for two-point conversion) Third quarter BC - Hemmert 4 pass from Hartsell (two-point conversion failed) MSU - Chapman 3 pass from Schultz (C Gardner kick) MSU - S Greene 1 run (two-point conversion failed) Fourth quarter MSU - FG C Gardner 19

Iowa

See also: 1995 Iowa Hawkeyes football team

Iowa Hawkeyes at Michigan State Spartans

Period	1	2	3	4	Total
Iowa	0	6	8	7	21
Michigan State	0	7	0	0	7

at Spartan Stadium, East Lansing, Michigan

• Date: October 7, 1995
• Game time: 12:00 p.m. EST
• Game attendance: 73,732
• Box score and Game recap

Game information
First quarter No scoring Second quarter IOWA - Bromert 37-yard field goal MSU - S. Greene 2-yard run (C Gardner kick) IOWA - Hurley 50-yard field goal Third quarter IOWA - Dwight 11-yard pass from Sherman (S Shaw reception for two-point conversion) Fourth quarter IOWA - S Shaw 7-yard run (Bromert kick)

Illinois

See also: 1995 Illinois Fighting Illini football team

Michigan State Spartans at Illinois Fighting Illini

Period	1	2	3	4	Total
Michigan State	7	6	6	8	27
Illinois	7	0	7	7	21

at Memorial Stadium, Champaign, Illinois

• Date: October 14, 1995
• Game time: 12:00 p.m. EST
• Game attendance: 65,653
• Box Score

Game information
First quarter MSU - S. Greene 16-yard run (Gardner kick) ILL - Douthard 1-yard run (Scheuplein kick) Second quarter MSU - S. Greene 3-yard run (kick failed) Third quarter ILL - Holcombe - 25-yard run (Scheuplein kick) MSU - S. Greene 3-yard run (Gardner kick) Fourth quarter MSU - S. Greene 1-yard run (S. Greene run) ILL - Dulick 14-yard pass from J. Johnson (Scheuplein kick)

Minnesota

See also: 1995 Minnesota Golden Gophers football team

Minnesota Golden Gophers at Michigan State Spartans

Period	1	2	3	4	Total
Minnesota	7	10	14	0	31
Michigan State	14	7	0	13	34

at Spartan Stadium, East Lansing, Michigan

• Date: October 21, 1995
• Game time: 12:00 p.m. EST
• Game attendance: 70,123
• Box Score

Game information

First quarter MIN - 10:23-Atwell 58 pass from Sauter (Chalberg kick) MSU - 6:39-Renaud 9 run (Gardner kick) MSU - 0:25-Renaud 18 run (Gardner kick) Second quarter MIN - 11:56-Chalberg 45 FG MSU - 6:52-Carter 33 pass from Banks (Gardner kick) MIN - 3:45-Duerr 1 pass from Sauter (Chalberg kick) Third quarter MIN - 4:12-Thelwell 8 pass from Sauter (Chalberg kick) MIN - 2:33-Thelwell 21 pass from Sauter (Chalberg kick) Fourth quarter MSU - 14:11-Gardner 27 FG MSU - 9:55-Mason 65 pass from Banks (Gardner kick) MSU - 4:50-Gardner 24 FG

Wisconsin

See also: 1995 Wisconsin Badgers football team

Michigan State Spartans at Wisconsin Badgers

Period	1	2	3	4	Total
Michigan State	7	0	0	7	14
Wisconsin	7	17	14	7	45

at Camp Randall Stadium, Madison, Wisconsin

• Date: October 28, 1995
• Game time: 11:30 a.m. CST
• Game attendance: 78,447
• Box Score

Game information

First quarter WIS - C. Martin 5-yard run (J. Hall kick) MSU - S. Greene 2-yard run (C. Gardner kick) Second quarter WIS - J. Hall 43-yard FG WIS - C. Martin 5-yard run (J. Hall kick) WIS - Nyquist 7-yard pass from Bevell (J. Hall kick) Third quarter WIS - T. Simmons 1-yard pass from Bevell (J. Hall kick) WIS - Nyquist 2-yard pass from Bevell (J. Hall kick) Fourth quarter MSU - Mason 31-yard pass from Banks (C. Gardner kick) WIS - Waerig 12-yard run (J. Hall kick) Top Rushers MSU - Crenshaw 5 rushes, 41 yards WIS - C. McCullough 19 rushes, 91 yards Top Passers MSU - Banks 17/30, 207 yards, 3 INTs WIS - Bevell 17/27, 265 yards Top Receivers MSU - Muhammad 6 receptions, 83 yards WIS - T Simmons 5 receptions, 70 yards

Michigan

See also: 1995 Michigan Wolverines football team

Michigan Wolverines at Michigan State Spartans

Period	1	2	3	4	Total
Michigan	3	0	8	14	25
Michigan State	0	14	0	14	28

at Spartan Stadium, East Lansing, Michigan

• Date: November 4, 1995
• Game time: 3:30 p.m. EST
• Game attendance: 74,667
• Box Score

Game information

First quarter UM - Hamilton 35-yard field goal Second quarter MSU - Mason 70-yard punt return (Gardner kick) MSU - Greene 7-yard run (Gardner kick) Third quarter UM - W. Carr 3-yard run (Campbell pass from Griese) Fourth quarter UM - Biakabutuka 5-yard run (Hamilton kick) MSU - Greene 1-yard run (Gardner kick) UM - Hayes 22-yard pass from Griese (Hamilton kick) MSU - Carter 25-yard pass from Banks (Gardner kick)

Indiana

See also: 1995 Indiana Hoosiers football team and Indiana–Michigan State football rivalry

Michigan State Spartans at Indiana Hoosiers

Period	1	2	3	4	Total
Michigan State	21	0	10	0	31
Indiana	7	0	6	0	13

at Memorial Stadium, Bloomington, Indiana

• Date: November 11, 1995
• Game time: 1:00 p.m.
• Game attendance: 24,027
• Box Score

Game information
First quarter MSU - Renaud 59-yard run (Gardner kick) MSU - Greene 76-yard punt return (Gardner kick) IND - Smith 5-yard run (Horn kick) MSU - Mason 87-yard kickoff return (Gardner kick) Second quarter No scoring Third quarter MSU - Gardner 23-yard field goal IND - Eloms 31-yard interception return (kick failed) MSU - Chapman 4-yard pass from Banks (Gardner kick) Fourth quarter No scoring

Penn State

See also: 1995 Penn State Nittany Lions football team

Penn State Nittany Lions at Michigan State Spartans

Period	1	2	3	4	Total
Penn State	0	7	3	14	24
Michigan State	0	10	0	10	20

at Spartan Stadium, East Lansing, Michigan

• Date: November 25, 1995
• Game time: 3:30 p.m. EST
• Game attendance: 66,189
• Box Score

Game information
First quarter No scoring Second quarter PSU - Milne 1-yard run (Conway kick) MSU - Gardner 32-yard field goal MSU - Greene 3-yard run (Gardner kick) Third quarter PSU - Conway 42-yard field goal Fourth quarter MSU - Greene 16-yard run (Gardner kick) PSU - Engram 53-yard pass from Richardson (Conway kick) MSU - Gardner 28-yard field goal PSU - Engram 4-yard pass from Richardson (Conway kick)

1995 Independence Bowl

See also: 1995 LSU Tigers football team

Michigan State Spartans vs. LSU Tigers

Period	1	2	3	4	Total
Michigan State	7	17	0	2	26
LSU	7	14	21	3	45

at Independence Stadium, Shreveport, Louisiana

• Date: December 29, 1995
• Game attendance: 48,835
• Box Score

Game information

First quarter MSU - Muhammad 78 pass from Banks (C Gardner kick) LSU - Cleveland 6 run (A Lafleur kick) Second quarter MSU - S Greene 3 run (kick failed) LSU - Kennison 92 kickoff return (A Lafleur kick) MSU - Mason 100 kickoff return (S Greene run for two-point conversion) LSU - Faulk 51 run (A Lafleur kick) MSU - FG C Gardner 37 Third quarter LSU - Faulk 5 run (A Lafleur kick) LSU - Northern 37 fumble return (A Lafleur kick) LSU - Kennison 47 pass from Tyler (A Lafleur kick) Fourth quarter LSU - FG Richey 48 MSU - Safety, Kessler tackled in end zone Rushing LSU - Faulk 25-234-2, Cleveland 13-23-1, Toomer 4-13-0, Kennison 1-6-0, Tyler 4-(-1)-0, Kessler 1--3-0 MSU - Renaud 16-79-0, Greene 8-48-1, Crenshaw 1-1-0, Banks 10--28-0 Passing LSU - Tyler 10-20-1-164 1TD MSU - Banks 22-44-3-348 1TD Receiving LSU - Kennison 5-124-1, LaFleur 2-31-0, Toomer 1-9-0, Cleveland 1-(-4)-0, Faulk 1-4-0 MSU - Muhammed 9-171-1, Mason 6-74-0, Renaud 2-47-0, Carter 2-16-0, Outlaw 2-24-0, Keur 1-16-0 Punting LSU - Kessler 4 punts, 44.5 yard avg. MSU - Salani 6 punts, 37.5 yard avg.

1996 NFL Draft

The following players were selected in the 1996 NFL Draft.

Player	Round	Pick	Position	NFL Team
Tony Banks	2	42	Quarterback	St. Louis Rams
Muhsin Muhammad	2	43	Wide receiver	Carolina Panthers
Scott Greene	6	193	Running back	Carolina Panthers