Indiana University Athletics
Great Games in IU-Michigan State Series History - 1991
10/23/2006 12:00:00 AM | Football
Oct. 23, 2006
Note: As part of the Hoosier Nation Challenge for 50,000 fans at the Oct. 28 Indiana-Michigan State game at Memorial Stadium, IUHOOSIERS.COM takes a look back at some of the great games in IU-MSU history. Today's installment features Indiana Radio Network play-by-play announcer Don Fischer's recollection of Indiana's 31-0 victory over Michigan State on Oct. 5, 1991.
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. - The Indiana Hoosiers opened the 1991 season with a loss at Notre Dame, followed by a 13-10 victory over Kentucky and a 27-27 tie at Missouri. Despite the 1-1-1 record, head coach Bill Mallory felt that IU's non-league schedule would pay dividends in Big Ten play, starting with the league opener against visiting Michigan State.
"I think this team is having its toughest test, schedule wise, without question, of any team we had," Mallory told The Bloomington Herald-Times on Oct. 1, 1991. "We've faced a good, tough, challenging non-conference schedule, and we're going to be facing a tough conference schedule.
"But I think it is very capable of being a darned good football team. I think the kids believe that, and the kids want it...I just know that we're better than we've shown so far. I wouldn't kid you. Down deep I feel that we have not been what we want to see, what I feel we're capable of being."
Fischer has been calling IU football games since 1973, and he says that the '91 Hoosiers stand out for one particular reason.
"That may have been Bill's best defense," Fischer said. "They had a good defensive end, Charles Beauchamp, who was a big-time player. (Defensive tackle) Hurvin McCormack was a good inside player. Greg Ferrall was a terrific defensive end, in the ilk of (former all-league linebacker) Joe Huff - undersized but quick and fast to the quarterback."
Facing a Michigan State offense that featured running back Tico Duckett and eventual NFL veterans Jim Miller and Courtney Hawkins, the Indiana defense rose to the occasion with a 31-0 victory. The Hoosiers limited the Spartans to 33 yards rushing and 138 total offensive yards en route to their first shutout since 1986.
The win over the Spartans ignited a 5-3 Big Ten finish, highlighted by a 24-0 victory over Baylor in the Copper Bowl.
The IU defense forced Michigan State to punt on its first possession, and Trent Green capped a 79-yard drive with a 15-yard touchdown run. MSU was held to a three-and-out on the ensuing series, and Scott McGowan returned the punt 79 yards for a touchdown and a 14-0 lead with 6:38 left in the first quarter.
The Hoosiers had two more opportunities to score in the first half, but Vaughn Dunbar was stopped on a fourth-and-one from the Michigan State 18-yard line and Scott Bonnell missed a 37-yard field goal. The IU offense regained its efficiency by scoring on its first three possessions of the second half. Bonnell converted a 26-yard field goal, Green found Thomas Lewis for a 31-yard touchdown pass and Dunbar added a one-yard run.
Green posted some impressive numbers, completing 20-of-29 for 241 yards. Eddie Thomas was on the receiving end of eight passes for 101 yards, while Dunbar ran for 89 yards on 23 attempts and added six receptions for 69 yards.
Despite the victory, Indiana did not gain immediate possession of the The Old Brass Spittoon, the traveling trophy annually awarded to the winner of the Indiana-Michigan State game. It seems that Michigan State officials forgot to bring the trophy with them to Bloomington.
Nonetheless, the Hoosiers still gave their fans, including the 46,982 at Memorial Stadium, much to celebrate.
"When Indiana crowds get into a game, they're as loud as anyone in the country," Fischer said. "Teams feed off crowds, it makes a huge difference."
