Continuing efforts already underway, Hannah successfully campaigned to showcase MSU’s academic strengths, athletic policies and long-term aspirations. He understood that joining the Big Ten would improve the football program and benefit the entire university. In 1948, MSU was invited to the prestigious Big Ten and officially joined in 1950. To this day, men’s and women’s athletics — and their winning records — continue to unite Spartans and are a shining example of the legacy Hannah championed. Opened MSU to the world