The Spartans made a minor change in the helmet for the 1967 season, maintaining the Kelly green shell with one-inch white center stripe and the two-inch, white NCAA style rear numerals previously used, but the small Spartan head logo was now trimmed in black rather than white. With the loss of so many truly great players, perhaps a drop to 3-7 should have been expected. Jimmy Raye, who eventually totaled over three decades as an assistant coach and coordinator in college and the NFL, was at the QB helm with FB Regis Cavender and HB Dwight Lee as regulars. FB Bob Apisa who had battled leg injuries never recaptured his previous All American form but has, in subsequent years, become a much-noticed actor and stunt man, often and convincingly playing the part of hulking villains in such action adventure movies like Hard Target and The Replacement Killers. Return man and end Al Brenner was the team's most consistent weapon while DE George Chatlos remained consistent and eventually played with the Michigan Arrows of the Continental Football League and Philadelphia of the WFL. Twins Rich and Ron Saul made their mark as sophs, Ron at guard and Rich at DE and LB. DB Steve Garvey proved to be a better baseball player, a ten-time All Star in his nineteen year Major League career. One of the more promising Spartan players who missed his final season due to disciplinary reasons was two-way back Jess Phillips who played well for the Bengals over five seasons and then played another five for the Saints, Raiders, and Patriots. The '68 squad had a good defense but injuries and inconsistent play limited them to a 5-5 record. HB and track man Don Highsmith was a good outside threat and QB Bill Triplett was considered one of the best running QB's in the nation. Brenner continued to excel on the wing and in the defensive backfield, named an All American DB and then playing DB for the Giants in 1969 and '70. Rich Saul was the leading tackler from his rover position despite needing knee surgery while twin brother Ron excelled on the O-line.

If interested in any of these MSU helmets please click on the photos below.