'Who wore it best' at Michigan State: No. 56

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. 56 – Alfred Pitts

Center, 1974-77, Hubbard, Ohio

Résumé

1974: 2,961 team rushing yards, 965 team passing yards, 269.2 team rushing yards per game, 27 team rushing touchdowns, 10 team passing touchdowns

1975: 2,914 team rushing yards, 912 team passing yards, 264.9 team rushing yards per game, 22 team rushing touchdowns, 5 team passing touchdowns

1976: 1,931 team rushing yards, 2,322 team passing yards, 175.5 team rushing yards per game, 12 team rushing touchdowns, 17 team passing touchdowns

1977: 2,168 team rushing yards, 1,877 team passing yards, 197.1 team rushing yards per game, 20 team rushing touchdowns, 10 team passing touchdowns

Total: 9,974 team rushing yards, 6,076 team passing yards, 226.6 team rushing yards per game, 81 team rushing touchdowns, 42 team passing touchdowns

Why Pitts?

Alfred Pitts was named a first-team All-Big Ten selection by conference coaches in 1977. The previous year, he earned second-team honors at the center position.

Pitts, who was a team captain during his senior season, helped pave the way for some of Michigan State’s top playmakers in the mid-'70s. Levi Jackson, Charles Baggett, LeRoy McGee, Jim Early. Ed Smith and Kirk Gibson are just a few examples of the players Pitts blocked for in his four years in East Lansing.

The team was as consistent as Pitts’ play.

The Spartans won seven games in three of his four seasons, including a win over rival Notre Dame in 1975. However, Pitts never beat Michigan.

The Spartans’ rushing attack thrived behind Pitts. That was never more evident than during his freshman season when MSU running backs amassed nearly 3,000 yards and 27 touchdowns. Led by Jackson, Spartans’ tailbacks averaged 269.2 yards per game while going 7-3-1 on the season under head coach, Dennis Stolz.

In 1976, Darryl Rogers was named the head coach at MSU and brought a potent passing attack with him. Having Gibson and Early certainly didn’t hurt. During Pitts’ final two seasons, the Spartans passed for more than 3,500 yards and 27 touchdowns.

Pitts was a sixth-round selection of the Cleveland Browns in the 1978 NFL draft.

Who else wore No. 56?

Joseph Badaczewski (C, 1953-55), Walter Ball (HB, 1940), Brian Bury (SN, 2004-06), Tony Grant (SN, 2000-01), Dwayne Hawkins (LB, 1995-96), Brian Hill (DT, 1988-89), Mark Loper (OG, 1970-71), Thomas Piette (C, 1978-82), Chris Piwowarczyk (OL, 1988-91), Gordon Serr (G, 1950-52), Alex Shackleton (SN, 2007-10), Thomas Sullivan (C, 1944), Ralph Wenger (C, 1945-49), Jeff Wieland (LB, 1983), Raymond Wietecha (C, 1946), David Wolff (DT, 1983-86)

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

MORE ON ALFRED PITTS:
* Hubbard High School Hall of Fame
* All‐America, All‐Conference and Divisional Teams