Let's get two things straight. The hate that spews from the pores of Spartan and Wolverine fans a like is not contained in one week nor can it be contained. If you hail from the Great Lakes State you probably have family that has attended either school and no first hand the revelry that come with this rivalry. You also know that the hate extends past football. It extends to all sports, competitions, meetings, talk shows, or anything you can think of. If you're a Spartan, you hate anything to do with Michigan. If you're a Wolverine you thumb your nose at anything Spartan. Most people don't realize why this rivalry started. It extends farther than sports. Sport is the only way to take out the aggression either side feels for the other. I didn't want to reveal what side of the rivalry I'm on but it only seems fair to let everyone know and to give for warning to any bias you may perceive. I'm a Spartan. Born and raised. Like many of us we get the love of our teams from our fathers. I'm no different, and in fact even I got my love for MSU from my grandfather. My grandfather was a high school football star in the Detroit area in the early 1960's. Stemming from his athletic ability as D-Lineman he received many offers from schools across the country including Iowa, Purdue Nebraska, Miami, Michigan, and Michigan State. During recruiting visits to schools he told me one school in particular he knew right away that he wouldn't consider. That school? The University of Michigan.
On his recruiting visit to Michigan, many coaches asked him why he'd want to go anywhere but Michigan? As in the words of current Michigan head coach Brady Hoke, "This is Michigan for God sakes." My grandfather played high school football from 1960-1963. In that four year span, the Wolverines went 16-18. My grandfather asked why he'd want to join a losing team? He stated over and over the disgust he had for the arrogance that oozed from all over Ann Arbor. Michigan did this and Michigan did that. He told me all they ever talked about was the past things like it was going to contribute to success in the coming months. The arrogance turned him from the Wolverines. He originally committed to the University of Detroit Mercy until a lucky break made him a Spartan. While playing basketball for his high school, (St. Cecilia's) he went up against one of the best players in the state who was being recruited by MSU. My grandfather out shined that player that night and led his team in his points and steals. One of the MSU recruiters in the stands that night reported back to MSU Football Head Coach Duff Daugherty that they needed to look into my grandfather. MSU offered him but he refused until one day upon returning home from school he found Duffy Daugherty sitting in his living room. Duffy swayed him and he committed to MSU. He loved the campus, the coaches; they were down to earth and knew what needed to be done to win. My grandfather wouldn't become more than a practice player as he left the university in 1965 to take care of his mother who had fallen on hard times. MSU remained apart of him even in his brief time. He always reiterated to me Michigan's arrogance. They no respect for MSU and that's where our story starts.
Michigan founded in 1817 became known for it's academic prowess as well as it's football might. Today it's considered one of the preemptive universities in the world. Michigan State founded in 1855 as a Morrill Land Grant University it was originally an Agricultural school. The sports have had ups and downs but recently many have found success especially basketball and football. The university has grown and is now one the Top 100 universities in the world. Two great university in this state but you know when you get to the top you don't want to give it up. Michigan's Machiavellian complex has caused them to bash anything green and white.
"Oh, you went to MSU, is your degree in farming?"
"Moo U"
"Go green, go white. Can't read, can't write."
The arrogance, the disrespect, and the constant bringing up of past performances has only grown MSU hatred towards Michigan. It's the arrogance i believe that irritates Spartans the most. Constantly asked why we wouldn't go to Michigan when Michigan is clearly the best choice. Yes there is no denying that Michigan is the best university in this state or region for that matter. Maybe we don't like it? Take pizza. Little Caesar's was voted the best Detroit style deep dish pizza. Just because it's voted the best doesn't mean I'm going to like it. Maybe the sauce is too creamy or there's too much cheese. I''ll take my business to the pizza place that won second best because maybe to my personal tastes this business offers better pizza. Throw this back to Michigan. They may be the leaders and best but if I don't like the inner workings like the campus or the way things are run or the personality of the students then I'll pick the college that offers me what I want. Maybe that university is MSU. So you see I know Michigan is the best but I don't like the makeup of Michigan.
"You only go to state because you can't get into Michigan." Well maybe I can't but that doesn't mean I'd go their anyway. I have friends who have the ability to get into Michigan and Michigan State but are leaning towards MSU. They don't like the inner workings of Michigan and also realizing that they won't win any scholarships because of the competitiveness of U-M they'll take the money MSU is offering them. Plus the major my friends are trying to pursue may have a better program at MSU than Michigan does! They're planning for their futures. If the best place to succeed is MSU then why turn it down to go to Michigan just because it's "Michigan for God sakes."
There are plenty of Michigan fans who go to MSU. They couldn't get into their own school so they choose the "next best" college. This falls into the disrespect column. Next Best. "That's your opinion." Thanks Brady for another quote. Yes you can call MSU what you want but it's a Top 100 university in the world. There are least 16,000 institutions of higher leaning in the world. Top 100 out of 16,000. Please go on about how a degree at MSU isn't worth anything. Michigan fans more often than not cannot get into Michigan. This brings us to the Wal-Mart Wolverine. You can define that in one of two ways. A.) A Michigan fan that's so clouded by the Michigan of old they fail to realize their team isn't good. They also fail to give MSU any credit or any team credit for that matter. It's all about Michigan and blaming someone else. Or B.) A fan that for not being able to think on their own or lacking the funds to shop anywhere but Wal-Mart for their necessities purchases the college gear sold at Wal-Mart which is predominately Wolverine gear. So yes someone lacking the knowledge to get into Michigan as well as lacking the knowledge to attend a sufficient university therefore lacking the income to shop for gear anywhere but America's finest establishment; Wal-Mart. (Why Wal-Mart sucks in general is a whole other story.) Wal-Mart Wolverines are the worst. Not only do they lack the capabilities to see that 2014 Michigan isn't 1970-1998 Michigan; they also lack the intelligence to give credit where credit is due. Michigan won't be the best team every year. There will be teams that are just flat out better than the Wolverines. Accept the fact, that's all Spartans really want.
Main question I've been asked is why is MSU so determined to beat Michigan? Why do we care so much? Well, why does peanut butter and chocolate taste the best in Reese's form? Why is water wet? Why is snow cold? We just do because the Lord came down and siad there must be in state rivalries in this whole grand scheme of things. It's much deeper than that. It's because of the things stated above. Michigan believes MSU to be no one. We're "little brother." Michigan's pride and joy is football. That's all they talk about. Michigan did this Michigan did that. They did all that back when your grandfather was your age. It has no relevancy today and the constant bringing up of accomplishments from 1910-1943 makes no sense. What have you done for me today? I don't care about your Big Ten title before either World War. Michigan hasn't won a Rose Bowl since 1998. 16 years ago was their last relevant accomplishment. It doesn't matter now when you talk about the current team. It's the overbearing arrogance that annoys the Spartans the most. Michigan's pride and joy is football year in and year out, and if MSU can beat them at their one true love then we're going to do it. Anything to strike at the Wolverine heart for all their arrogance and tradition is something every Spartan wants. Just remember the words of MSU head coach Mark Dantonio, "Pride comes before the fall. It's no over. It's never over, it's just beginning."
Go Green.
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