2023 MGoPhotos of the Game (Week 8): Michigan State
Full Album Links:
Michigan Football at Michigan State 2023 (Patrick Barron)
Michigan Football at Michigan State 2023 (Bryan Fuller)
While leaving East Lansing a bit after midnight, I pleasantly thought "oh nice, not a lot of traffic." In years past I've had to wait several hours for easy egress from the city but not this time. Sure, the game had been over for well over an hour, but the city was so quiet aside from the occasional group of students on their way to a house party and some marching band members going home.
This has been the case for every game this season. After the Nebraska game, I accidentally turned on a Nebraska football radio channel where folks of all stages of sports grief were calling in. Meanwhile the city resumed business as if it was a Tuesday afternoon. In Minneapolis, the crowds were less rowdy after the game than during a hockey game (which is actually just Minnesota being on-brand).
I've never attended a hockey game at Michigan State's Munn Ice Arena but everything I've heard about it described what Spartan Stadium was like last night: a library. This is a program that puts everything on the line for the Michigan game and yet I've never seen them be more despondent. It felt like nobody wanted to be there, fans or players.
The 2021 Michigan MSU game was quite the scene of rabid sports fans. The Spartan student section was full 50 minutes before kickoff and was never not loud. It's what you'd expect of a top 10 vs top 10 Spartan Stadium against their most hated rivals. Even 2016 and 2018 Spartan Stadium had a nervous "what if" energy to it (the pre-game stuff in 2018 added some tension too).
And thus the Michigan football boa constrictor strikes again, squeezing the life out of everything that gets in its way, even fans in a prime time game against their arch rival. At some point, the crowd gets quiet. The players become listless. Everyone just wants to go home.
At one point the timeout entertainment was fans doing a field goal kicking contest where the winner would get a chance to go to Michigan State's bowl game.
A pair of fans resorted to wearing paper bags over their heads.
By the 4th quarter, the crowd seemed to be at least 75% Michigan fans. The last remaining MSU fans were those types that stay until the clock hits zero "just because." I know what these types are like because myself, and many readers of this site, were the same type at some point in these last two decades. I get it.
Oh yeah and THIS HAPPENED.
And then, much like the Little Brown Jug celebration, the team gathered around like it was a formality. There was no gloating at the opposing teams' fans like in previous years. There weren't any left.
Junior Colson talked about how you could see the light leave the Michigan State players' eyes and that that was when the game gets fun. But Michigan is sucking the life out of entire fanbases at this point. I keep thinking of the woman behind me at the Nebraska game who reacted to Roman Wilson's amazing touchdown catch by just lowly saying "Michigan... you're the worst."
Just the worst.
Boa constrictors only eat every 7-10 days. Welcome to bye week.
About the Photographers
If you'd like to support us, one of the simplest things you can do is follow us on social media (links just below) where we post way more photos than here. In the offseason I also do a LOT of wildlife/national park photography. While we're not allowed to sell any of our sports photos per our credential agreement (sorry to anyone who reached out asking about one), I sell prints from my adventures which I sell on FineArtAmerica. You can buy prints (or just look at some pretty pictures) here: Patrick Barron Art Collections Or if you'd like, you can simply support me by buying me a coffee!
Social Media Accounts:
Patrick Barron:
Twitter: @BlueBarronPhoto
Instagram: @BlueBarronPhoto
Instagram (BUT WITH BEARS): @BlueBarronPhoto_Wild
Bryan Fuller
Twitter: I have been informed that Bryan's Twitter was hacked and is currently INOP :(
Instagram: @BryanFullerPhotography
[THE ONE JOKE after THE JUMP]
Next week: BYE WEEK, DO NOT CALL
October 22nd, 2023 at 7:11 PM ^
Fantastic as always
October 22nd, 2023 at 7:23 PM ^
"Boa constrictors only eat every 7-10 days. Welcome to bye week."
Niiiiice.
October 22nd, 2023 at 11:47 PM ^
I guess it’s gonna be hungry when Purdue rolls into town in two weeks.
October 23rd, 2023 at 6:56 AM ^
I am 100% stealing that line for the rest of this season.
October 22nd, 2023 at 8:19 PM ^
The This happened link is a deleted post now. I assume that we’re talking about the Hitler thing?
October 22nd, 2023 at 8:31 PM ^
I looked through both full albums. Both are full of great action shots. I marvel at both the technical elements and the artistic composition. Here are three that caught my eye:
From Bryan Fuller's Album
That picture reminds me of a coiled spring ready to unwind. I like how there's no other players anywhere around, and how it's not a close-up, but rather shows McCarthy in the open and ready to throw the ball.
From Patrick Barron's Album
I love these shots just prior to the snap of the ball. The look on Keegan's face is focused, and there's a real sense of things just about to explode with action.
There's a melancholy about this shot -- as intended -- and the framing of this is awesome. There's just enough empty bleachers around those two to convey the sense of isolation, but no so much that the two get lost. The composition on this is wonderful.
Lots of great shots this week!
October 23rd, 2023 at 12:55 AM ^
even during the depths of the RR era, when we played a crappy NW team at home in the rain/sleet and lost in 2008, I was there and so were a decent amount of fans. Mork has created a base of fans who think they are actually better than UM who got spoiled and now see they are bottom d=feeders, above NW but below Iowa.
October 22nd, 2023 at 9:40 PM ^
The photography is spectacular. I am perusing the National Park stuff in order to support (via non-sports photos). One nit-pick re: Voyageurs - that bird is a Ruffed, not a ruffled, Grouse. Sorry to be that guy.
October 22nd, 2023 at 9:42 PM ^
That QB towel shot is gold, Jerry, gold!
October 22nd, 2023 at 9:56 PM ^
Everyone complains when Michigan is good. But not one damn peep when it was Ohio State dominating everyone's schedule.
October 23rd, 2023 at 12:52 AM ^
10 years ago, almost to the freaking day (OK maybe 10 days later), during the rapid decline of the Hoke era from 11 to 8 to 7 to 5 wins, we got smoked at MSU 29-6. I remember two images from that day.
1. Mud soaked poor Devin Gardner getting no help from his team and showing the beaten look on his face.
2. MSU cheerleaders hosted on the backs of their mates celebrating 5 wins out of 6 (soon to be 7 of 8), acting like they belonged, and we were little bros.
I remember thinking - SOMEDAY we will return here and annihilate these clowns so that even the cheerleaders will want to go home before it over.
Saturday night was of those dreams!
October 23rd, 2023 at 8:55 AM ^
Sainristil really nailed the Paul Bunyan pose. Great shot!
October 23rd, 2023 at 10:09 AM ^
Chance to win a free ticket to MSUs bowl game.
Hmmmm. Does it come with an expiration date?
October 23rd, 2023 at 10:32 AM ^
Came for the pics. Stayed for the sweet sweet taste of Spartan tears. My only disagreement with your analysis is that this did not feel like a boa constrictor game. It felt like a black mamba. Paralyze our prey then sit back and watch it die before eating it.
October 23rd, 2023 at 10:40 AM ^
Great photos guys! This game wasn't about one night, it was about an era changing.
Even as a 58 yr old man i can appreciate those Taylor Swift lyrics
October 23rd, 2023 at 1:49 PM ^
Patrick, your photo's are really good, but your narratives might be even better; well done.
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