OT: In need of an explanation of Spartan fans
I consider myself well versed in the ways of college football fans. I spend far more time than I should looking at fan boards and blogs, reading about recruiting. I have never, in my life, come acrosss more interesting fans than Spartan fans. This is quite a statement, because Auburn fans have more disillusioned ideas than the movie Inception. That being said, I wandered on over to the MSU Red Cedar Message Board, to see how they were reacting to Michigan's recruiting success today. (I also did the same thing with Bucknuts, but listing Buckeye failures is just stating the obvious.)
While there, I got the usual disgruntled fan statements of "We didn't really want any of them", "We'll still kick their ass" and my long favored "Those kids couldn't play here anyway". As I understand it, they own 4 straight victories over your boys. But lets be honest, no one really gives a damn nationally. After googling the overall series record between the schools, I got the sort of slanted results I was looking for. You would think the realization of how poor their overall record is against Michigan would temper their enthusiasm, but no, those guys are shit house rat crazy. I've never seen anything like it. They might not have the irrational behavior of the more annoying SEC fans, but dear God it's like the last 100 years of college football never happened to them. What the fuck is this, "Our Town"?
Honestly, I can't even explain the "ok, what now?" expression most Alabama fans had for our bowl game matchup with MSU last year. So someone, I don't care who, please explain the Spartan mindset to me. I'm dead serious, I can't wrap my head around it.
February 18th, 2012 at 7:52 PM ^
I was born and raised in Ann Arbor. My dad and grandpa both graduated from U of M. I have been a huge Michigan fan since before I can remember. With that said, I do not go to U of M, I go to Eastern.
I was accepted into U of M but I was also awarded a scholarship at Eastern that allowed me to attend for next to nothing. I also have always planned on going to graduate school, thus I knew that saving money is even more important. Also knowing that I would more than likely go to grad school, I knew it would be less important where I got my undergrad degree from. So, in the end, I decided to go to Eastern instead of U of M.
Does that make me less of a fan than the guy from New York who couldn't get into an Ivy League school, and is now attending U of M? I think not. The suggestion alone is offensive.
The whole concept behind "Walmart Wolverines" is ridiculous. However they succeed in upsetting us by using the term, so it will never go away.
February 18th, 2012 at 8:13 PM ^
Being a Michigan fan (especially in football) is really easy. For someone to just decide, "My favorite team is the one that has won more games than all the other teams," is fairly obnoxious to just about everyone else. You seem to recognize this when you feel the need to point out your family connection to Michigan and the fact that you were in fact admitted to the school.
To illustrate, imagine we live in a world where Notre Dame has actually won a bowl game played in the continental United States in the last few decades. If you went to Indiana or Purdue and came home for Thanksgiving, only to see your dumbass cousin who is flunking out of community college wearing a Joe Montana jersey and running his mouth about Tim Brown, you would probably like your cousin a little less. If you graduated from Northwestern or Illinois and strolled into a Chicago bar on a fall Saturday, only to hear the drunken locals nominating Lou Holtz for sainthood while your alma mater is battling to the wire against East Buttfuck State, you would probably want to break a bottle over somebody's head.
Obviously these are extreme examples, but they are far from implausible and that is how stereotypes start. To an MSU season ticket holder, someone in a Michigan t-shirt looks like an American wearing a Manchester United or Real Madrid top in Europe. As loyal Wigan supporters themselves, they are probably going to think you are an asshole unless you have a better reason for supporting the team than, "Well, they win all the time and that is pretty sweet!"
February 18th, 2012 at 8:30 PM ^
The thing is, is that the same could be said about TONS of mass market schools (Texas, USC, Notre Dame, Florida, Alabama etc etc), yet the "Walmart Wolverine" gets more attention than them all. I have no problem with people getting upset with the examples you give above, but MSU fans have somehow convinced themselves that ANYONE who did not go to U of M but is a fan deserves to laughed at and mocked. It is so obviously a result of their inferiority complex, yet it never ceases to infuriate me when I come across the MSU fan spewing this garbage.
February 18th, 2012 at 8:14 PM ^
Your credentials check. You have Maize & blue coursing through your veins. Be proud.
(Also be happy that your're saving a ton of coin in your undergrad years and can choose to attend UM at the grad/professional level if you desire.)
February 18th, 2012 at 11:18 PM ^
So if I've got the heritage I'm not a Walmart Wolverine? I was born in Ann Arbor to an alum and a prof. (My mom taught remedial writing to much of the football team in the late 80s and early 90s.) All of my relatives on my dad's side are HUGE Michigan fans, though no one from my generation went to MIchigan for undergrad, though two did for grad school. I wanted to go for grad school, but did not get in. :(
February 18th, 2012 at 11:29 PM ^
At what point to do point to your own accomplishments?
Honor your parents/relatives, but affirm yourself.
February 18th, 2012 at 11:42 PM ^
What does that have to do with what teams I root for?
February 18th, 2012 at 11:51 PM ^
Root for them based on your own interests. You don't need to justify anything based on your parents or relatives.
February 18th, 2012 at 11:52 PM ^
That wasn't the question. Did you read the post I was replying to?
February 18th, 2012 at 7:30 PM ^
February 18th, 2012 at 7:38 PM ^
No, that won't work because Auburn has quite a few fans in Alabama. While Auburn are still 'Bama rejects, much like how if you can't get into college, you go to State, Auburn has a secure hold on much more of Alabama than MSU does on Michigan.
Auburn also has a pretty nice campus.
February 18th, 2012 at 7:57 PM ^
Say what you want about MSU, but you're discrediting yourself if you claim MSU's campus isn't nice. Its huge, which sucks ass, but the campus itself is quite beautiful.
February 18th, 2012 at 8:10 PM ^
I think it's pretty monotonous. Plus I don't like how it is completely sectioned off from the rest of EL. The river is pretty cool, but I find the architecture tiresome.
February 18th, 2012 at 7:32 PM ^
I never really hated state till I started reading this blog about a year ago. i always thought of 'em as an average B1G team. But seeing how they talk all this shit and get on here and troll, I really can not stand them. I'm ready for next season and we put a can of whoop ass on them!
February 18th, 2012 at 7:34 PM ^
You really want to be accepted here, don't you RDT? You just seem to "get it".
February 18th, 2012 at 7:35 PM ^
"shit house rat"
Since childhood, one of my favorite animals. I'd +1 you if I could.
February 18th, 2012 at 7:35 PM ^
What really amazes me is some of the off topic stuff that gets discussed over there. A quick look through the most recent threads over there will give you topics like...
Should I get a twitter account?
Why do women have so many keys?
Bump when you are coming down with a cold
Man... I'd give anything for some White Castle for lunch
Women over 60 that you would bang
Sliced deli meat: What's your shelf life?
February 18th, 2012 at 7:36 PM ^
Think of MSU the way the SEC thinks of South Carolina. South Carolina will celebrate the hell out of any win they get over another SEC school (I saw what they did this past season with their win here in Knoxville, and Tyler Bray didn't even play in that game). Historically, however, they are irrelevant.
Of course that might not be the best example because MSU has been in the Big Ten a LOT longer than SC has been in the SEC, but it's probably the closest thing.
Even still, you have to add the arrogance of Florida fans. In fact, MSU fans often wear attire that is almost as embrassaing as Florida's famed jorts look. So, mix South Carolina's delusion about their program with Florida's arrogrance and you begin to understand Spartan fans.
February 24th, 2012 at 5:52 AM ^
February 18th, 2012 at 7:42 PM ^
Would I be considered a "Wal Mart Wolverine" to them since I was accepted to Michigan but couldn't afford the out of state tuition? Sad story considering most of my family lives in Ypsi or Novi. The older I get, the more I hate the Sparties of East Lansing.
February 18th, 2012 at 8:26 PM ^
after I got my AA degree from CSCC with a 3.0 average GPA on my transcript and I had to repeat a few math classes cause it was never my best subject. Anyways after I applied about 3 to 4 weeks later I got my letter back saying "congratulations you have been accepted to attend the university of michigan state" blah blah blah. (I NEVER wanted to go there by the way) This was to prove to my Spartan friend in Lansing how easy it is to get into MSU. I replied back with an email to the office of admissions saying "I never intended to go to MSU and never will attend your school. This was to prove I could. Warm regards and GO BLUE." Never heard back from them lol
February 18th, 2012 at 8:48 PM ^
February 18th, 2012 at 10:11 PM ^
Terrelle Pryor style.
February 18th, 2012 at 7:43 PM ^
So are you a Michigan fan pretending to be an Alabama fan boosting the Michigan fans spirits by mentioning the irrational Michigan State fans posts?
I think I've figured you out.
February 18th, 2012 at 7:50 PM ^
I was blown away by the posts, and I've seen some nonsense in my day.
February 18th, 2012 at 7:53 PM ^
welp, if you are who you say you are, I appreciate you noticing how interesting their fans are. They are super irrational excuse machines. They can't handle winning and don't know their place.
February 18th, 2012 at 7:44 PM ^
February 18th, 2012 at 7:49 PM ^
As much as I hate to say it, ohio fans have earned the right to be proud (other than cheating) and loud about their team. They have beena force in the Big Ten for some time now. Their shit talking actually has some basis. MSU, on the other hand, doesn't know how to handle a few wins, Is irrational and dillusional about their place in the conferance and in college football, and overall has little bro syndrom. That's the easiest way to describe it.
February 18th, 2012 at 8:01 PM ^
You know who else we haven't beat in a while? Iowa. And Iowa's fan isn't rude about it.
February 18th, 2012 at 8:48 PM ^
I see what you did there..
February 18th, 2012 at 7:46 PM ^
February 18th, 2012 at 7:48 PM ^
we have 2 spartans trolls on here why else would you downvote a person just trying to figure out the mind of this boards opponent? Another great topic by roll damn tide
February 18th, 2012 at 7:52 PM ^
A great many Alabama fans HATE Michigan, but it's for all the right reasons. They hate Michigan's confidence, they hate Tom Brady, they hate Desmond Howard. When a group of people hate you for all the right reasons, that's college football.
February 18th, 2012 at 7:57 PM ^
Do they hate where Mark Ingram came from?
February 18th, 2012 at 8:12 PM ^
hate the state that incarcerated his dad?
February 18th, 2012 at 8:21 PM ^
how dare you!!!
February 18th, 2012 at 8:01 PM ^
dont forget the Orange Bowl victory in the first year of BCS games. Damn extra points lol
February 18th, 2012 at 7:53 PM ^
This certainly didn't help matter either!!!
February 18th, 2012 at 7:55 PM ^
How do you make Michigan State cookies?
February 18th, 2012 at 8:05 PM ^
you make buckeyes... put them in a bowl and let them get beat and mashed till done.
February 18th, 2012 at 7:55 PM ^
I like what you've done here RDT, but in order to be fair...
"This is quite a statement, because Auburn fans have more disillusioned ideas than the movie Inception."
To not mention Harvey Updyke yourself comes off as disillusioned as well. And while I know one person does not define a fanbase, he has done more damage to one than anyone else I can think of.
February 18th, 2012 at 7:56 PM ^
February 18th, 2012 at 8:01 PM ^
February 18th, 2012 at 8:00 PM ^
I'd be willing to bet that you're just a Michigan fan at this point.
February 18th, 2012 at 8:04 PM ^
About an hour south of Huntsville, for those of you who care about these things.
February 19th, 2012 at 1:12 PM ^
My family will be doing our anual drive through Alabama this spring on our way to Panama City.
Can we use your bathroom?
February 18th, 2012 at 8:08 PM ^
Maybe I'm just cynical by nature, but I thought that about five posts into his MGoBlog posting career.