A great number of prominent alumni from Michigan State University (MSU) include politicians, celebrities, CEOs of multi-million dollar businesses, and athletes! If you are from MSU, what better way to celebrate your decision of going to this school than citing some of those who have achieved so much in the field of sports?
Whether it is in baseball, basketball, hockey, or something else, this list proves that MSU takes shaping their students into the best of the best seriously. Hopefully, this list will assure you of the standards and top-notch mentors found at Michigan State University. Nonetheless, if you are looking for ways to go to MSU, here it is.
Magic Johnson
Born as Earvin “Magic” Johnson Jr., he is a retired professional basketball player as well as the current president of the basketball operations of the Los Angeles Lakers of the National Basketball Association (NBA). Magic Johnson was born in Lansing, MI and attended MSU for college.
Plaxico Burress
Plaxico Antonio Burress was born in Norfolk, Virginia, U.S. He is an American and former football player and receiver of the National Football League (NFL). He received recruitment from the Pittsburgh Steelers for the 2000 National Football League Draft. In addition, he joined the New York Jets as well as the New York Giants. He even caught the winning baseball catch of the Super Bowl XLII. This was when the Giants finally won against the New England Patriots, who was undefeated at the time.
Bubba Smith
Charles Aaron “Bubba” Smith, an American football player, first came into fame at MSU. He was from Orange, Texas. Furthermore, he had played a major role in a 10–10 tie with Notre Dame in the year 1966; this was known as “The Game of the Century.” In addition, he was also one of the only three players to have his jersey number retired by the program itself. In 1988, he was then inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame.
Steve Garvey
Steven Patrick Garvey is an American former and professional baseball player. He is thankful for football coach Duffy Daugherty for convincing him to be a sports athlete in his choosing MSU. In addition, he was a two-time National League Championship Series MVP in years 1978 as well as 1984, a 10-time All-Star Champion, the National League Most Valuable Player Awardee of 1974, and an MVP of the All-Star Game in years 1974 as well as 1978. He now holds the National League record for consecutive games played which is a total number of 1,207.
Clayton Richard
Clayton Colby Richard played for the San Diego Padres, Chicago Cubs, and Chicago White Sox. He accepted a scholarship to play both baseball and football at MSU in the fall of 2003. He was born in Lafayette, Indiana. He was redshirted for the Wolverines football team in his freshman year. In the year 2004, he fought for the spot for starting quarterback on the team; however, it was given to Chad Henne.
Mark Ingram, Sr.
Mark Ingram, Sr. was born in Rockford, Illinois and is a former football player. In the NFL, he was a wide receiver. He went to Flint Northwestern High School in Flint, MI where he first played football. Here, he played as the quarterback with Andre Rison as a halfback. He went to MSU in East Lansing, MI to play college football. Here, he was moved to play wide receiver, where he remained throughout his professional career.
Antonio Gates
Antonio Ethan Gates Jr. is an American and a football player for the Los Angeles Chargers of the National Football League (NFL). He enrolled at MSU wanting to play under Coach Nick Saban. He is the career leader in receiving yards, receiving touchdowns, and receptions for the Chargers. In the year 2015, he had become the second tight end as well as the ninth player overall to have done a record 100 career touchdown receptions.
Diane Dietz
Diane Dietz is a former female basketball player. She played from years 1979 to 1982 for the MSU. Diane Dietz began her career in basketball at Farmington Hills Mercy High School. After she graduated from high school, she enrolled at MSU and played basketball from the years 1979 to 1982. In addition, she also became MSU’s all-time leading scorer with a total number of 2,076 career points.
Sam Vincent
Another American retired professional basketball coach and player, Sam Vincent loved the sport growing up in Lansing, MI. He even won the “Mr. Basketball” award in the State of MI in 1981. He is a 6’2″ point guard who followed in the tracks of his older brother Jay Vincent, who also attended MSU. He earned Sporting News All-America honors in the year 1985. After he graduated from college, he was chosen by the Boston Celtics with the twentieth pick of the 1985 National Basketball Association (NBA) Draft. He then played two seasons for the Celtics and obtaining an NBA Championship in the year 1986.
Flozell Adams
Flozell Jootin Adams was born in Chicago, Illinois. He is a former football player; offensive tackle. He played college football at MSU. He played for the Dallas Cowboys and Pittsburgh Steelers. He attended MSU and played for coach Nick Saban’s football team known as the State Spartans from the years 1994 to 1997.
Morten Andersen
Morten Andersen, born from Copenhagen, Denmark, was known as the “Great Dane.” He is a former American football player and kicker from MSU. He retired in 2008 after two seasons of not playing football. He is considered an all-time leader in the games and sports he played in the National Football League with 382 as the former all-time leading field goals as well as scores in NFL history.
Muhsin Muhammad
He was Muhsin Muhammad II, also known as Melvin Darnell Campbell Jr., is an American football player/ wide receiver. He had even played for the Chicago Bears as well as the Carolina Panthers of the National Football League (NFL). He was born in Lansing, MI where he first played college football at MSU.
Kirk Gibson
Kirk Harold Gibson was born in Pontiac, MI. He started his career in baseball at MSU. He is an American professional baseball player and former sports manager. Now, he is a special assistant and commentator for the Detroit Tigers on Fox Sports Detroit.
Jim Abbott
James Anthony Abbott was born September 19, 1967, in Flint, MI. He is considered as a pitcher for the MLB or the Major League. The amazing thing about Abbott was that he played the game despite having no right hand; he was born without a right hand. Truly, he is a remarkable graduate of MSU. He continued to play for the New York Yankees with 10 seasons in Major League Baseball (MLB) including California Angels, Milwaukee Brewers, and the Chicago White Sox from the years 1989 to 1999.
Bill Freehan
Born as William Ashley Freehan on November 29, 1941, Freehan is known as a former professional baseball player. He played his whole fifteen-year professional sports career in the Major League Baseball (MLB) as a catcher for the Detroit Tigers. He attended MSU; this was where he set an all-time Big Ten Conference batting point of .585 in the year 1961.
The above-mentioned list is meant to inspire, stimulate, encourage, and celebrate the rich history of MSU in the field of sports. It also serves as a reference for those who are looking for reasons to enroll at MSU. Nonetheless, if you already go to said university, this list is a reason for you to celebrate! Indeed, Michigan State University is full of alumni that have truly impacted the world of sports.
