American college football season
The 2003 Michigan State Spartans football team represented Michigan State University in the 2003 NCAA Division I-A football season . The Spartans play their home games at Spartan Stadium in East Lansing, Michigan . This was the first year for head coach John L. Smith , who would win Big Ten coach of the year in his debut, but would later be fired after the 2006 season.
The Spartans were coming off a 4–8 season and had just let go of head coach Bobby Williams .
Schedule
Date Time Opponent Rank Site TV Result Attendance August 30 3:40 p.m. Western Michigan * ESPN Plus W 26–2172,923
September 6 3:40 p.m. Rutgers * Spartan Stadium East Lansing, MI ESPN Plus W 44–2872,579
September 13 12:10 p.m. Louisiana Tech * Spartan Stadium East Lansing, MI ESPN Plus L 19–2072,387
September 20 2:30 p.m. at Notre Dame * NBC W 22–1680,795
September 27 12:10 p.m. No. 13 Iowa Spartan Stadium East Lansing, MI ESPN Plus W 20–1072,276
October 4 12:10 p.m. Indiana No. 25 Spartan Stadium East Lansing, MI (rivalry ) ESPN Plus W 31–372,398
October 11 12:00 p.m. at Illinois No. 21 ESPN2 W 49–1447,509
October 18 12:00 p.m. at No. 25 Minnesota No. 15 ESPN2 W 44–3838,778
November 1 12:00 p.m. No. 11 Michigan No. 9 Spartan Stadium East Lansing, MI (rivalry ) ABC L 20–2775,129
November 8 12:00 p.m. at No. 7 Ohio State No. 14 ABC L 23–33105,194
November 15 12:00 p.m. at Wisconsin No. 21 ESPN2 L 21–5679,256
November 22 12:00 p.m. Penn State Spartan Stadium East Lansing, MI (rivalry ) ESPN W 41–1072,119
December 29 9:05 p.m. vs. No. 22 Nebraska * ESPN L 3–1756,226
*Non-conference game HomecomingRankings from AP Poll released prior to the game All times are in Eastern time
Rankings
Ranking movementsLegend: ██ Increase in ranking ██ Decrease in ranking — = Not ranked RV = Received votes Week Poll Pre 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 Final AP — — RV — RV 25 21 15 11 9 14 21 RV RV RV RV RV Coaches — — RV — RV RV 23 18 12 10 15 22 RV RV RV RV RV BCS Not released 13 10 20 24 — — — — Not released
Roster
2003 Michigan State Spartans football team roster
Players
Coaches
Offense
Defense
Special teams
Head coach
Coordinators/assistant coaches
Legend
(C) Team captain
(S) Suspended
(I) Ineligible
Injured
Redshirt
Roster
Coaching staff
2004 NFL Draft
The following players were selected in the 2004 NFL draft .
References