A few days ago I posted some thoughts about the Indiana-Rutgers game. I was pleasantly surprised about the number of positive comments I received. I post very rarely post, but a number of you asked me to continue to do so, given my many years of following and supporting IU sports.
The Indiana-Michigan State rivalry goes back to the mid1920's, however at that time MSt was not a member of the Big Ten. Surprisingly, you might be unaware there wasn't an actual "Big Ten" until 1953, prior to that the conference was known as the Western Conference. At the time there were only nine schools in the conference.
There had been 10 up through 1939 -Chicago University, the Maroons when they withdrew from football competition and several years later to basketball also. Theirs is quite a history story too, but will save that for another day. Fascinating though.
Two things happened of football importance in 1953. First they re named them selves the Big Ten and Michigan State was admitted to competition in the Big Ten. Over the years IU's won lost records is 13 wins, 45 loses and 2 ties.
Two of the games played against Michigan State stand out over all the others though, both of which IU lost. The opening Big Ten game, considered the official opening of the 1960 newly built Memorial Stadium was against Michigan State-IU lost.
Probably the most important game was played in 1987 at Michigan State. Arguably Mallory's best football team was that year. It was the year that IU beat Michigan at home 14-10 in a driving rain storm. (My wife and I were travelling in New Zealand that day and finally found a hotel that had a satellite dish and hoped we could find the game or at least the score. Finally we saw a little snippet of news and we recognized the goals posts being torn down-so we knew-but I still regret not being there to see it.)
The 1987 team which finished with eight wins and 4 losses and played in the Peach Bowl (losing in the last moments of the game to Tennessee) went into the game at Michigan State needing to win. By winning, even though there was one more game to play, Indiana would have been selected as the Big Ten representative in the Rose Bowl. Unfortunately IU lost 27-3 and IU has not come close to a major bowl (they have gone to two bowls since-my wife and I were at both of them), let alone a Rose Bowl game since.
Of note Nick Saban began his major coaching career at MSt, 1995-1999 when he went to Louisiana St and then Alabama.
Of lesser note was the coaching career of the late Frank "Muddy" Waters who coached MSt three years, 1980-1982 and had a 10 win and 23 loss record. He was not a popular choice, his age in the sixties at the time being a factor. Long time IU fans may remember the home game at IU when a plane carrying a banner that said "Save Michigan St football, fire Muddy Waters" flew over Memorial Stadium. IU helped extend his career though, as we lost to them (IU was a favorite)
I want to send thanks to all the co IU fans who sent comments and likes to me after the Rutgers game. If this kind of info interests you I can do more, but I don't want to bore you or use your time for the memories of an old time, "never daunted" IU fan. My family has a long history with IU-but that's another story too.
Go Hoosiers
The Indiana-Michigan State rivalry goes back to the mid1920's, however at that time MSt was not a member of the Big Ten. Surprisingly, you might be unaware there wasn't an actual "Big Ten" until 1953, prior to that the conference was known as the Western Conference. At the time there were only nine schools in the conference.
There had been 10 up through 1939 -Chicago University, the Maroons when they withdrew from football competition and several years later to basketball also. Theirs is quite a history story too, but will save that for another day. Fascinating though.
Two things happened of football importance in 1953. First they re named them selves the Big Ten and Michigan State was admitted to competition in the Big Ten. Over the years IU's won lost records is 13 wins, 45 loses and 2 ties.
Two of the games played against Michigan State stand out over all the others though, both of which IU lost. The opening Big Ten game, considered the official opening of the 1960 newly built Memorial Stadium was against Michigan State-IU lost.
Probably the most important game was played in 1987 at Michigan State. Arguably Mallory's best football team was that year. It was the year that IU beat Michigan at home 14-10 in a driving rain storm. (My wife and I were travelling in New Zealand that day and finally found a hotel that had a satellite dish and hoped we could find the game or at least the score. Finally we saw a little snippet of news and we recognized the goals posts being torn down-so we knew-but I still regret not being there to see it.)
The 1987 team which finished with eight wins and 4 losses and played in the Peach Bowl (losing in the last moments of the game to Tennessee) went into the game at Michigan State needing to win. By winning, even though there was one more game to play, Indiana would have been selected as the Big Ten representative in the Rose Bowl. Unfortunately IU lost 27-3 and IU has not come close to a major bowl (they have gone to two bowls since-my wife and I were at both of them), let alone a Rose Bowl game since.
Of note Nick Saban began his major coaching career at MSt, 1995-1999 when he went to Louisiana St and then Alabama.
Of lesser note was the coaching career of the late Frank "Muddy" Waters who coached MSt three years, 1980-1982 and had a 10 win and 23 loss record. He was not a popular choice, his age in the sixties at the time being a factor. Long time IU fans may remember the home game at IU when a plane carrying a banner that said "Save Michigan St football, fire Muddy Waters" flew over Memorial Stadium. IU helped extend his career though, as we lost to them (IU was a favorite)
I want to send thanks to all the co IU fans who sent comments and likes to me after the Rutgers game. If this kind of info interests you I can do more, but I don't want to bore you or use your time for the memories of an old time, "never daunted" IU fan. My family has a long history with IU-but that's another story too.
Go Hoosiers
