It was a special day in East Lansing, as the Spartans hosted Northwestern during homecoming week.
Thousands gathered not only to cheer on their team, but to also celebrate a former Spartan.
The Cotton Bowl Foundation awarded $50,000 to the Michael Sadler Legacy Scholarship.
Sadler was an All-American both on and off the field.
"The recipients of his scholarship should really look at his life and what he meant, and try to emulate him in some way and they'll be a better person I guarantee it," said former foundation Chair Dan Novakov.
Sadler was honored before Michigan State's 2015 Cotton Bowl victory over Baylor for his accomplishments as a student athlete.
The scholarship will be awarded to a football student-athlete each year at Michigan State.
