1938 Michigan State Spartans football team

1938 Michigan State Spartans football
Conference	Independent
1938 record	6–3
Head coach	Charlie Bachman
Offensive scheme	Notre Dame Box

The 1938 Michigan State Spartans football team represented Michigan State College in the 1938 college football season. In their sixth season under head coach Charlie Bachman, the Spartans compiled a 6–3 record and lost their annual rivalry game with Michigan by a 14 to 0 score. In inter-sectional play, the team defeated West Virginia (26-0), Syracuse (19-12), and Temple (10-0), and lost to Santa Clara (7-6).^[1]

Halfback John Pingel was selected by the Associated Press (AP), International News Service (INS) and Detroit Times as a first-team player, on the 1938 College Football All-America Team.^[2][3] Pingel was later inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame.

Game notes

Michigan

Michigan State at Michigan

1 2 3 4 Total Michigan State 0 0 0 0 0 • Michigan 0 7 0 7 14 Date: October 1, 1938 Location: Michigan Stadium Ann Arbor, MI Game attendance: 82,500 Referee: J. S. Getschell (St. Thomas)

On October 1, 1938, the Spartans lost to Michigan by a 14 to 0 score. The game, the 33rd between the two programs,^[4] was played at Michigan Stadium before 82,500 spectators.^[5] Sophomore halfback Paul Kromer, appearing in his first game for the Wolverines, scored both touchdowns. Michigan's first points were scored after Fred Trosko intercepted a John Pingel pass at the end of the first quarter, giving Michigan possession at the Spartans' 47-yard line. Kromer scored the touchdown on fourth down from the two-yard line. Michigan's second touchdown was also set up by an interception, with Norm Purucker intercepting a Pingel pass. Kromer again scored on a two-yard run.^[5]

References

1. "Michigan State Yearly Results (1935-1939)". College Football Data Warehouse (David DeLassus). Retrieved July 12, 2015.
2. ESPN College Football Encyclopedia. ESPN Books. 2005. p. 1174. ISBN 1401337031. (AP, INS)
3. "All-America Addendum" (PDF). College Football Historical Society Newsletter. May 1999. (Detroit Times)
4. "Michigan vs. Michigan St.". College Football Data Warehouse. David DeLassus. Retrieved May 26, 2015.
5. "Michigan Scores 14-0, Before 82,500: Beats Michigan State First Time in 5 Years; Kroner [sic] Gets Both Touchdowns". The New York Times. October 2, 1938.