'Who wore it best' at Michigan State: No. 42

Ever see a number on a Michigan State football jersey and think of all the great players to wear it? Me, too. In this daily series, I’ll give you my take on which Spartan football player was the best ever to wear each number. The criteria are simple: How did he perform at MSU? And what kind of impact did he have on the program?

No. 42 – Tim Moore

Linebacker, 1984-87, St. Johns

Résumé

1984: 10 solo tackles, 15 assisted, 25 total tackles, 2 tackles for loss, sack, interception

1985: 66 solo tackles, 53 assisted, 119 total tackles, 8 tackles for loss, 3 sacks, interception

1986: 47 solo tackles, 54 assisted, 101 total tackles, 2 tackles for loss, interception

1987: 49 solo tackles, 38 assisted, 87 total tackles, 15 tackles for loss, 6 sacks, 2 interceptions

Total: 172 solo tackles, 160 assisted, 332 total tackles, 27 tackles for loss, 10 sacks, 5 interceptions

Why Moore?

The August 1987 edition of Sports Illustrated claimed Michigan State linebacker Tim Moore “can start on anybody’s team.”

Jack Ebling, who covered the Spartans for the Lansing State Journal during Moore’s career, said the St. Johns Redwing “played with a near-psychotic fury.”

That’s good enough for me.

While names like Andre Rison, Tony Mandarich and Lorenzo White grabbed headlines during the 1987 Rose Bowl championship season, Moore was a steady force in George Perles’ top-ranked “Gang Green” defense, highlighted by a seven-interception performance against rival Michigan and allowing only 2 yards rushing against Big Ten power Ohio State.

A brutal schedule awaited the Spartans in 1987. They opened at home with No. 19 USC, followed by a road tilt at No. 9 Notre Dame. MSU then returned home to face sixth-ranked Florida State before its first conference road test at No. 17 Iowa.

It was in that game at Kinnick Stadium that Moore and the 1-2 Spartans let the nation know that they were for real. Moore and Co. held the Hawkeyes to minus-47 yards rushing in the second half. Moore, with help from teammate Kurt Larson, added injury to insult, knocking Iowa quarterback Dan McGwire out of the game on a vicious linebacker blitz in the fourth.

MORE: Michigan State football: Who Wore It Best?

The Spartans went on to win seven of its last eight games – they tied Illinois at home in mid-October – including victories over No. 20 Ohio State, No. 16 Indiana, and once again, USC, which was ranked 16th in the nation when the Spartans beat them 20-17 in the Rose Bowl.

Moore registered more than 100 tackles in both his sophomore and junior seasons, and finished his MSU career with 332 total. Each season, Moore picked off a pass, including two during his senior campaign. That season he also led the team with 15 tackles for loss and got to opposing quarterbacks six times.

With the 206th pick in the eighth round of the 1988 NFL draft, Moore was selected by the Phoenix Cardinals.

Who else wore No. 42?

Ryan Allison (WR/LB, 2005-08), Todd Anderson (DE/FB, 2010-11), Nick Bendzuck (FB, 2009-10), Jacweir Breslin (LB/S, 1968-70), Denzel Drone (DE, 2010-13), Donald Gilbert (FB, 1955-57), Derek Hughes (TB, 1978-81), Michael Hurd (SE, 1971-74), Richard Kenney (C/K, 1964-66), Mike Labinjo (LB/FB, 2000-03), Mark Lacy (DT, 1991), Zac Leimbach (S, 2015-16), Eugene Lekenta (FB, 1952), Alvin Luplow (HB, 1958), Mitchell Newman (HB, 1961), Andrew Pendy (LB/FB, 2008-09), Gary  Rugg (FB, 1964), Rob Tabatchnick (LB, 2004-07), Jesse Thomas (HB, 1948-50), Frederick Ziegel (QB, 1934-36)

Contact Cody Tucker at (517) 377-1070 or cjtucker@lsj.com and follow him on Twitter @CodyTucker_LSJ.

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* 20th anniversary celebration: 1987 Big Ten & 1988 Rose Bowl champions