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Alabama-Michigan State history includes famous coaches, title controversies
By John Brasier
Published:
Though Alabama and Michigan State have played only once, they share a history that spans segregation, the recruiting of Joe Namath, national championship controversies and yes, Nick Saban.
Alabama’s Paul “Bear” Bryant and Michigan State’s Duffy Daugherty, the schools’ most famous coaches, were friends in the turbulent 1960s when their teams were among the nation’s best.
The Crimson Tide and the Spartans had a home-and-home series schedule for 2016 and 2017, cancelled at Alabama’s request following the arrival of Texas A&M and Missouri in the SEC.
Despite the cancelled series, Alabama and Michigan State may play after all in 2016 — if the Cotton Bowl (College Football Playoff semifinal), which kicks off after 8 p.m. ET on New Year’s Eve, runs especially long or goes into overtime.
Despite their mutual runs of success — currently and in the 1960s — the teams’ only meeting on the field came in the Capital One Bowl after the 2010 season. Alabama, with Eddie Lacy, Mark Ingram and Trent Richardson in the backfield, routed the Spartans 49-7.
But the two schools have competed against each other for previous national championships.
In 1965, the unbeaten Spartans had already claimed the UPI national championship entering the Rose Bowl, where they lost to UCLA 14-12. Alabama beat Nebraska 39-28 in the Orange Bowl to claim the AP national title, voted on after the bowl games.
In 1966, Alabama finished unbeaten, allowing only four points per game, and whipped Nebraska again, this time in the Sugar Bowl. But the Tide finished behind Notre Dame, which kicked a tying field goal and later played conservatively to preserve a 10-10 tie at Michigan State in the “Game of the Century,” and the Spartans in the AP and UPI voting.
Notre Dame’s choice to play for a tie against the Spartans prompted Bryant to quip: “At Alabama, we teach our men to win.”
Sports Illustrated’s Dan Jenkins chimed in: that Notre Dame “tied one for the Gipper.”
While Alabama has been coached by legends such as Bryant, Wallace Wade and now Saban, Michigan State’s line of coaches includes legends such as Clarence “Biggie” Munn, Daugherty and yes, Saban.
Alabama and Michigan State were polar opposites with regard to integration. While Alabama and other Southern schools maintained all-white rosters throughout most of the 1960s, Michigan State took advantage and recruited Southern black stars.
Daugherty’s 1966 team included black stars from the South such as DE Bubba Smith, LB George Webster, RB Clinton Jones, WR Gene Washington — all first-round NFL Draft picks — and QB Jimmy Raye. Alabama didn’t integrate its team until 1971.
Bryant had recommended FB Charles “Mad Dog” Thornhill to Daugherty, who recommended Joe Namath to Bryant.
