The MSU Football Players Association (MSU FPA) is an organization that was formed in midyear 2004 and was given its birth by Head Coach John L. Smith. It wasn’t until the beginning of 2005 that the association got functioning, but when it did a strong force was created within the family of Spartans and a tradition had begun

The purpose of the Association is to perpetuate the Spartan football tradition and to enhance the success of the MSU football program. Our goal is to sustain a working relationship and to provide a network of communication to link the membership with the existing football program.

The MSU FPA (www.msufpa.com) continues to support, where we can, MSU Spartan Football, along with helping those members who have fallen on hard times. Our motto, “SPARTANS HELPING SPARTANS” goes a long way in telling who we are. Through fundraising and donations we continue to help our own, and support the current Football Program in many ways.

The membership is made up of all former players, coaches and managers who were ever a part of the Spartan program. Whether you won a “Letter” or not does not matter. Putting on the “Green and White” and making that long trip to the Spartan practice field is what counts. To date over 1500 players on record comprise the association and the numbers grow as each season arrives.
 

Accomplishments of the MSU FPA 

• Successfully Launched our Organization during 2005.
• Created Web Site for the MSU FPA
• Have developed an email system for all former players and we can communicate to them quickly. Over 1000 emails now
• Instituted an Annual Spring Golf outing with former players coaches and managers
• Have started a directory of players and on going process to update it
• Contributed $20,000.00  for Linemen’s Practice field behind the Duffy Building
• Contributed $12,000.00 for plasma monitors for the Coaches Offices and reception area.
• Working with the MSU Alumni Association to develop network for Jobs for Spartans.
• Held Regional Social gatherings for coaches while out recruiting and provided $1600.00 for T-Shirts given out by the Coaching Staff.
• Participate in our annual reunion  every Homecoming for former Players
• Have talked to Athletic Administration on Beautifying the Stadium and making it Historical. (We need more work done in this area) Need to reschedule. Have talked to Mason, Hollis, Ianni, Ralph Young Fund and others already but need help.
• Helped raise $45,000.00 for former Coach Ed Rutherford when he needed support due to a Florida Hurricane disaster.
• Over the years since being established, the MSU FPA has through private donations supported many Spartans who have been in need of support i.e. G.Webster, E.Rutherford, and Skip Macholts.
• Successfully duplicated the National Championship Rings for all members of the 1965/1966 Football Teams
• Have developed designs and have created National Championship Rings for our 1951, 1952, 1955 and 1957 teams similar to the 1965/1966 rings
• Have developed and designed a ring for MSU FPA membership
• Helped to establish the Mid-Michigan College Hall of Fame Chapter. This needs more work and better participation.
• Reinstituted sideline passes for all former players who wish to come back
• Have established a working relationship with Sports Information on Media Development
• We have Liaison committee that meets when necessary with the Head Football Coach and his staff members
• Successfully raised in excess of $600,000.00 for the MSU football Players Lounge for the new Duffy Daugherty expansion. This required me personally going into Ralph Young and following up on every single donor to make sure he got his pledge and money in.
• Working along with the Downtown Coaches Club on creating a significant awareness of the George Webster Scholarship Fund for former players.
• Completed a book and published it on the History of “Spartan Football Traditions” in October 2008.
• Fund raising and serving on the Committee for the “John Shinsky Orphanage and the Father MAC Dinner” presented annually by Lansing Catholic Central.
• Targeted and raised funds to completely pay for the publishing of the football books.
• Have developed a web site and book store network to sell our books.
• Developed and printed promotional literature for selling our book.
• Working with the newspapers across the state (Muskegon Chronicle, Grand Rapids Press, Lansing State Journal and the Detroit News and Free Press) to publish an article promoting the book.
• Have lined up a series of Talk Shows to also promote our book.
• To date have raised in excess of $150,000 on Book Sales
• Have worked with the new Spartan Nation TV show and helped create an ad for our football book promotional.
• Currently planning a fund raiser for the George Webster Scholarship Fund to take place at Homecoming 2011.