'Who wore it best' at Michigan State: No. 77

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. 77 – Jerry West

Offensive tackle, 1964-66, Durand

Résumé

1964: 1,448 team rushing yards, 981 team passing yards, 160.9 team rushing yards per game, 109 team passing yards per game, 7 team rushing touchdowns, 10 team passing touchdowns

1965: 2,369 team rushing yards, 1,186 team passing yards, 215.4 team rushing yards per game, 107.8 team passing yards per game, 25 team rushing touchdowns, 7 team passing touchdowns

1966: 2,304 team rushing yards, 1,244 team passing yards, 230.4 team rushing yards per game, 124.4 team passing yards per game, 29 team rushing touchdowns, 10 team passing touchdowns

Total: 6,121 team rushing yards, 3,411 team passing yards, 202.2 team rushing yards per game, 113.7 team passing yards per game, 61 team rushing touchdowns, 27 team passing touchdowns

Why West?

If Jack Conklin was the best offensive tackle of the Mark Dantonio era, it could be said that the same goes for Jerry West in the Duffy Daugherty era.

That’s a big statement.

West made a lot of those.

The 5-foot-11, 218-pound Durand native was a part of back-to-back national championships at Michigan State in 1965 and 1966, and was named an All-American his senior season after capping consecutive first-team All-Big Ten selections. The Spartans also claimed their first Big Ten title in 1965 and grabbed a second in 1966. Both teams were undefeated in conference play.

Like Conklin, the offense ran behind West. Legendary Spartans such as Clinton Jones, Bob Apisa, Steve Juday and Jimmy Raye followed West and Co. into the end zone on the ground 61 times in his three seasons in East Lansing.

They also followed him to the 1966 Rose Bowl, where despite losing to UCLA 14-12, the Spartans shared the national title with Alabama. The following season, only a 10-10 tie against top-ranked Notre Dame in “The Game of the Century” would stand between MSU and a solo national championship. They shared that honor with the Irish in one of the most competitive — and controversial — college football games of all-time.

MORE: A LOOK BACK AT NUMBERS 1-76

In 1966, West joined Norm Jenkins, Fred Convertini, Boris Dimitroff, Walt Forman, John Karpinski, Joe Przybycki and Dave Techlin to form one of the best offensive lines in program history. The Spartans led the conference in rushing (230.4 yards per game) and in scoring (30.4 points per game).

The offense, however, was often overshadowed by a dominant defense. It’s easy to see why with names like “Charles “Bubba” Smith, George Webster, Ron Goovert, Don Japinga and Harold Lucas on that side of the ball.

In the 1967 NFL draft, four of the top eight selections played at MSU. Smith went No. 1, followed by Jones. Webster went fifth to Houston and Washington went No. 8 to Minnesota.

West played on the North-South Shrine game and later signed a contract with the Lions of British Columbia in the Canadian Football League.

Let’s give a little love to Eric Moten here, too. He was a stalwart on the Spartans’ offensive line from 1987-90. He even played a little defensive tackle. William Hughes and Embry Robinson also get a nod for winning national titles during their times in East Lansing.

Who else wore No. 77?

Terry Bailey (MLB, 1980-81), Michael Biondo (G, 1960), Gregory Brewton (OT, 1974-75), Jon Campbell (LB, 1990), James Cherocci (LB, 1986), Henry Conway (OT, 2011), J’Michael Deane (OT, 2009-10), Daniel Delgrosso (T, 1958), Peter Fusi (C/T, 1946-48), William Hughes (T/C, 1950-51), Earl Mahoney (T, 1946), John McDowell (OT/C, 1983-85), Regis McQuaide (OG/OT, 1977-79), Eric Moten (DT/OG, 1987-90), James Nicholson (OT, 1970-72), Nick Padla (OT, 2015), Embry Robinson (T/G, 1954-55), Theodore Smolinski (T, 1941), Steve Stewart (OT, 2000-03), Norman Tipton (T, 1945), Craig Wycinsky (OT, 1968-69), Daniel Zynn (OG, 2005-06)

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

MORE ON JERRY WEST:
* Six cases for Michigan State Hall of Fame
* VIDEO: Jerry West at the 1966 MSU/Notre Dame Football Reunion
* Spartifacts: 1966 MSU All-Big Ten selections
* A night at the bar with MSU's 1965 football legends