History of the Spartans

The Michigan State Spartans are the athletic teams that represent Michigan State University. The school's athletic program includes 23 varsity sports teams. Their mascot is a Spartan warrior named Sparty, and the school colors are green and white. The university participates in the NCAA's Division I and the Football Bowl Subdivision for football. The Spartans participate as members of the Big Ten Conference in all varsity sports. Michigan State offers 11 varsity sports for men and 12 for women.

MSU's football team has won three national championships in 1952, 1965, and 1966 according to the NCAA, and has won the Rose Bowl in 1954, 1956, 1988, and 2014. Its men's basketball team won the NCAA National Championship in 1979 and 2000. The MSU men's ice hockey team won national titles in 1966, 1986, and 2007.

As the college grew, it looked to join a major collegiate conference. When the University of Chicago eliminated varsity football and withdrew from the Western Conference (now the Big Ten) in 1946, Michigan State president John A. Hannah lobbied to take its place. Despite opposition from the University of Michigan, the Big Ten admitted M.S.C. on May 20, 1949. After joining the conference, head football coach Clarence L. "Biggie" Munn led the Spartan football team to the Rose Bowl in the 1953–54 season, beating UCLA 28–20. Successor coach Hugh "Duffy" Daugherty carried the football team to a second Rose Bowl where it again defeated UCLA, 17–14.

College Sports Established
1896

Location
East Lansing, Michigan

College Name
Michigan State University

Collegiate History
1973 - Present / NCAA Division 1
1907 - 1973 / University Division of the NCAA

Conference History
1950 - Present / Big 10 Conference
1907 - 1950 / Indepentent
1888 - 1907 / Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association

Nickname
Spartans - The story’s origins trace back to 1925. At the time, the school’s name changed from Michigan Agricultural College to Michigan State College, and the public was asked to suggest replacements for the former “Aggies” nickname.

In March of 1926, an on-campus group collected the suggestions and selected the nickname “Staters,” which beat names like the Bearcats, Statesmen, Bob Cats, Pioneers and Fawns. Needless to say, the options were not exactly strong.

Despite the public’s majority support for the new name, they would not have the final say in the matter.

George Alderton, a local sports editor for the Lansing State Journal from 1923 to 1962, disliked the nickname and refused to use it in his publication.

Fortunately for Alderton — and Michigan State — he knew a man named Stephen George Scofes.

Scofes and his brothers were all born near Sparta, Greece but immigrated to the United States. In the 1920s they ran a restaurant in Lansing, Michigan called The Coffee Cup and were friends with Alderton, who visited regularly.

One day when Alderton stopped by for breakfast, the Greek immigrant restaurant owner gave him the suggestion for the elusive nickname that would be appropriate for the university. That nickname has since lasted the test of time, and since this era Michigan State sports teams, alumni groups and clubs have gone by the name… The Spartans.

NCAA Championships
Baseball 0

Men's Basketball 2
2000, 1979

Women's Basketball 0

Football 0

Soccer 2
1968, 1967