Is anyone rooting for MSU to win the Rose Bowl?
Is anyone rooting for MSU in the Rose Bowl? I suppose you could make a case that we ought to. The Big Ten's national perception is really bad, of course (thanks in part to ESPN's intentional submarining of the conference, IMO, but that's perhaps another post). A victory by MSU might have a positive ripple effect for the rest of the conference next year, especially when it's time to select the four teams for the Kodiak Smokeless Tobacco College Football Playoff Presented by Lloyd's of London and Kia Motors.
I know that I simply can't bring myself to root for MSU, though I have to respect what they've done with their program. I remember being a kid and seeing MSU go to the 1988 Rose Bowl and thinking that something just wasn't right about the situation, and I feel pretty much the same way now. Sure, they've earned the right to be there, but just a surely, the football gods must be offended by this current state of affairs. It is not right, in some fundamental way, like a household in which two dogs watch TV and use kitchen appliances while humans scamper around on the floor begging for scraps.
But anyway, is anyone rooting for MSU? I don't blame you if you are. As I said, it makes some sense.
December 31st, 2013 at 1:44 PM ^
As much as I want the B1G to do well in bowl games/gain some respect, I just can't bring myself to root for MSU.
December 31st, 2013 at 1:45 PM ^
I'm interested to see how they match-up with Stanford but even if I said I was rooting for Sparty, they would show their fans in the stands or the coach on the sideline and I would instantly start rooting against them.
December 31st, 2013 at 1:46 PM ^
December 31st, 2013 at 1:48 PM ^
Had we won the other night - yes. I would've rooted for them and all other brother B1G teams.
But given the embarrassment of getting pants'd on national TV I am now in full-blown hate mode and I want everybody else to lose and lose more embarrasingly than we did. I hope MSU, OSU and every other B1G team we played this year gets absolutely shelled.
Scortched earth. Death to everything.
December 31st, 2013 at 2:11 PM ^
Or as Lou Holtz would say, "Schorthed earthshshshshhh."
Or as Ron Burgundy would say, "Scotchy scotchy earthy, down in my belly."
December 31st, 2013 at 2:38 PM ^
Incredible. You articulated my mood precisely. We may be twins separated at birth, blood, or maybe even eskimo brothers, or possibly two parts of a hive mind.
December 31st, 2013 at 5:02 PM ^
I was simply channeling my inner mgobleu...and a Happy New Year to you my eskimo/hive mind brother.
December 31st, 2013 at 1:49 PM ^
December 31st, 2013 at 1:49 PM ^
Hodor
December 31st, 2013 at 1:49 PM ^
December 31st, 2013 at 1:52 PM ^
good for the big, and bad for Michigan, as it helps them win recruiting battles against us.
December 31st, 2013 at 1:59 PM ^
This is my biggest drawback to supporting them in the bowl game. We've already taken some hits and we really can't afford too many more. State winning the Rose Bowl can't do anything positive to our future recruiting battles.
December 31st, 2013 at 1:56 PM ^
December 31st, 2013 at 1:51 PM ^
I hope that they lose by 40, with their "#! in the country defense" being humiliated by Stanford's MANBALL offense, and their offense reverting to being a shit show.
For those who are rooting for MSU, keep in mind that we recruit against them. Malik McDowell is just on example of a kid who is choosing between us and them (amongst others). Pre-2008, MSU was never a recruiting factor - we got who we wanted generally, and they got the leftovers. But, in recent years, they are the dominant in-state team, and arguably one of the better midwestern teams, while we have become an afterthought. MSU winning the Rose Bowl only adds to that perception. It legitimizes them, even if only a bit, which could help with recruiting. Given where our program is, I will root for anything that gives us even a slight edge, and bringing down their national perception, even if only incrimentally, works for me.
December 31st, 2013 at 2:08 PM ^
December 31st, 2013 at 1:52 PM ^
December 31st, 2013 at 1:52 PM ^
I always root for Michigan and then the B1G. So yes, I am rooting for MSU.
December 31st, 2013 at 1:52 PM ^
Rooting for RR now! AZ playing well now on both sides of the ball. I'm glad we did not have to play RR in a bowl game!
December 31st, 2013 at 1:52 PM ^
I will be rooting for MSU.
In 2011 when we beat OSU and they went 6-7 I had some coworkers who were diehard OSU fans. I was pestered all year about how superior OSU was, and even after we beat them the chatter didnt stop. That's when i learned that our rivals will badger us every year forever, even if they go 0-12. I hope ever team we face is 11-1. The collective MSU fanbase isnt going to back down if they lose to stanford. The only good thing that can come out of this game for michigan is a B1G win.
I guess i just grew up being taught to cheer for my team, not against others.
Plus, when you root for sparty and they blow it you get the little joy of a Sparty Nooo!
December 31st, 2013 at 1:53 PM ^
December 31st, 2013 at 1:54 PM ^
I will sort of echo the sentiment of the OP when I say that, personally, I cannot bring myself to actively root for MSU. Same deal with Stanford really. At the same time, it would be nice to see the Big Ten Conference pull out a win in a major bowl game though - if we're going to have our playoff fate in the future decided by a committee, such wins would possibly help the conference a little bit.
As for tomorrow, I plan to sit down and try to enjoy some football as a mere spectator, and this is similar to how I treat every game that I watch that does not involve Michigan (in which case, of course, I am indeed actively rooting for a team). This is easier to do when it is bowl season, of course, and the only game which has consequences in your mind is the one your team plays in.
December 31st, 2013 at 1:55 PM ^
FUCK 'EM.
December 31st, 2013 at 1:55 PM ^
I hope Stanford just destroys MSU. I don't care about the B1G looking down. The SEC will shut up when Florida State beats Auburn in the National Championship. Please FSU get the win!!!
December 31st, 2013 at 1:58 PM ^
December 31st, 2013 at 1:57 PM ^
So Im the only one who would rather the perception of our rivals be as strong as possible, so that when we beat them, the glory is that much sweeter?
The only legit reason to root against MSU is that could affect recruiting in the state, but since UM tends to out recruit MSU anyway...
Not to mention with ND not being on the schedule in the years to come, competing (winning, hopefully) against well-respected MSU/OSU teams only legitimizes the nation image/perception of Michigan. At least thats how I view it.
December 31st, 2013 at 2:10 PM ^
December 31st, 2013 at 2:20 PM ^
December 31st, 2013 at 1:58 PM ^
It really freaks me out how close MSU was to playing for a national championship this year, and I honestly think they would compete well with FSU with how well they shut down EVERYBODY.
Strangely I really could care less whether they win the Rose Bowl.
December 31st, 2013 at 2:03 PM ^
So, if you could care less, then you really do care that they win.
December 31st, 2013 at 2:37 PM ^
By jove...
December 31st, 2013 at 2:00 PM ^
Hell no. I hope Stanford wins 76-0.
December 31st, 2013 at 2:05 PM ^
December 31st, 2013 at 2:08 PM ^
The Big Ten's national perception is really bad, of course (thanks in part to ESPN's intentional submarining of the conference, IMO, but that's perhaps another post).I would attribute the B1G's reputation thusly: 95% due to actually being a crappy conference that doesn't make a good showing on the national stage and 5% due to ESPN and various other outlets accurately pointing out the above.
December 31st, 2013 at 5:02 PM ^
So does that mean you are rooting for MSU?
December 31st, 2013 at 2:08 PM ^
Same for OSU.
Not gonna start now.
December 31st, 2013 at 3:08 PM ^
December 31st, 2013 at 4:52 PM ^
That one was easy. My personal hatred vs. our kids getting a banner and the statement it made after a decade plus in the wilderness? Anyone who wasn't rooting for OSU in that game doesn't have a working noggin.
December 31st, 2013 at 2:09 PM ^
yes i am
December 31st, 2013 at 2:10 PM ^
ND, MSU and OSU. That is the order in which despise all three teams!
December 31st, 2013 at 2:16 PM ^
If you don't understand it, then I don't expect you to.
December 31st, 2013 at 2:18 PM ^
I will be pulling for the Spartans, but reluctantly. If I didn't live out of state and my Spartan grad daughter weren't home for the holidays and sitting in the same room with me as we watch the Rose Bowl, I would likely have a different response.
December 31st, 2013 at 2:22 PM ^
That's a tough spot. Would it make one a bad father to fake a seizure in that situation? I don't have kids myself...
December 31st, 2013 at 2:20 PM ^
Given the attitude of Sparty fans, I hope they lose by 50. That would be good for Michigan in terms of the B1G. National perception, I don't give a damn.
December 31st, 2013 at 5:06 PM ^
"National perception, I don't give a damn."
Well you should because some recruits do care about national perception. So if you care about Michigan, then you should indirectly care about national perception.