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Welcome to the Spartan Plates. Our 396 members salute Michigan State University with personalized license plates on our vehicles. Each member's plate says something about MSU, or why they are loyal Spartan fans.

Our purpose has remained unchanged since we began in 1979: Spartan camaraderie! We collect no dues. We exist simply for some good-natured Spartan fun. Our first meeting in 1979 consisted of just seven, but we're growing all the time (see our Gallery of plates).

Most of us live in Michigan, but we have members across the USA. We meet each August in East Lansing... lunch at Noon, a hearty round of "MSU Shadows" and the "MSU Fight Song," a few door prizes, then a group photo somewhere on campus. We are usually on our way home by 3:00. We communicate via email exclusively, so be sure we have yours.

2009: Our 31st Year - At our most recent rally, we gathered behind home plate at the new McLane Baseball Stadium (Kobs Field). Special thanks to so many NEW members who joined us, to those who drove many miles, and to all who brought those fabulous door prizes!

Is my plate combination available? You can now check the Department of State computer to see if your plate idea is available.

Does my plate qualify? Plates must be personalized with a message about MSU or your connection with MSU. Some owners of personalized Block-S plates feel that just because their plate is obviously pro-MSU, they qualify. Not so. Clearly, it's getting harder and harder to come up with a good plate, but hey... that's what makes us unique. Wonder if your plate (or your plate idea) qualifies? Just email us, and we'll let you know.

Spartan Plates is a private club, not affiliated with Michigan State University, the MSU Alumni Association, or any other MSU organization. Membership is by invitation only. We collect no dues. Our two favorite teams are Michigan State, and whoever's playing Michigan. Our mascot is the Spartan, native to Greece... their mascot is the wolverine, native to landfills.



Alltime Upset
September 1, 2007

This game was viewed as not much more than a "scrimmage" for Michigan. The Wolverines entered 2007 ranked #5 nationally with national title expectations. But one of the greatest "David vs Goliath" efforts in college football history quickly derailed those dreams. Michigan returned stars Chad Henne, Mike Hart and Jake Long, but the Mountaineers neutralized that star power with a four-touchdown effort from dual-threat quarterback Armanti Edwards and a last-second field goal block. It was the first win for an FCS (then Division I-AA) team over a Top 25 AP team since the Division I subdivisions were created in 1978.

It was the first game of the last season for UM's head coach Lloyd Carr.

Sports Illustrated ranked it #1 on their list of "Top 10 College Football Upsets" (December 2009).

Click for video highlights or the last play of the game.


October 11, 2008 - A miracle field goal by Toledo's Alex Steigerwald and a missed field goal by Michigan with just four seconds left gave the University of Toledo its greatest victory in school history, a 13-10 win before 107,267 stunned fans in Ann Arbor's Big House. Steigerwald's career-long 48-yard field goal struck the cross-bar then bounced over to put the Rockets ahead early in the fourth quarter, 13-10. Michigan later drove to Toledo's nine-yard line where K.C. Lopata's 26-yard field goal attempt sailed wide left (video). It was Michigan's first ever loss to a Mid-American Conference school. Toledo was just 1-4 in the MAC going into this game, and would win just ONE more game all season. Michigan had its worse season EVER... 3-9. For the first time in 34 years, Michigan would not be invited to play in ANY post-season bowl game.


February 16, 2008


Adapted from a Mike Thompson cartoon in the Detroit Free Press - April 3, 2009