Explain Sparty hate to a puzzled outsider
First off- I come in peace
Second, I come in peace (in case you missed the first sentence)
OK
I have lived in Columbus Ohio all my life since 1959. I heard "Go Bucks!" more often than "Good Morning!" (BTW we did have mornings there). So I sort of became a UM fan out of rebellion. I "get" the OSU vs UM hate- both teams have been dominant a long time and knocked each other out of fun stuff a lot.
I do not have as good a sense for what goes on inside Michigan (the State). I sense, from reading these boards, that most of you guys may actually hate MSU more than OSU (I scientifically counted things like "Fuck Sparty!"). I understand CFB state rivalry, but not this one so much.
There are reasons this dislike should NOT be so intense:
1. UM has owned Sparty forever in terms of wins and losses- despite recent losses
2. I would assume there are many more UM fans in the State of Michigan than Sparty fans due to MSU's long track record of mediocrity- so you should outnumber Sparty fans quite a bit and feel like neighbors/coworkers are on your side
3. MSU has a high percentage of players who are from Michigan and that should give anybody from Michigan a sense of satisfaction when they achieve
So what is it? Is it the recent losses only? Was it this intense 15 years ago? Is it the coach? Would a nice guy coach end this dislike? Is it the fans? Are they really different than other fans? Does the fact that ANY team from Michigan is in the playoffs mean nothing?
I believe JH will have us back in the playoffs sooner than later and don't really think about MSU much. So, as an outsider to the state of Michigan, I am curious as to what has happened to make this hate so intense. I understand OSU vs. UM but don't understand why MSU angers so many more given the 3 items I outlined above. What am I missing as an outsider to the state?
thanks ( and I promise not to bring the subject up again)
Go Blue!
December 6th, 2015 at 10:48 AM ^
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It was based on the fact they played in the far weaker division, missed OSU, UM, PSU, and MSU in the other division, and had an overall SOS that was about middle in America. They also weren't particularly great looking in their marquee victories save NW, as they needed a last-second FG to beat Pitt and won an atrocious 10-6 game against a mediocre Wiscy outfit. Virtually nobody who followed CFB thought they were the #4 team in the country, so that's what I mean by fraud. Any other year, they are probably 8-4.
December 6th, 2015 at 10:57 AM ^
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December 6th, 2015 at 10:49 AM ^
It's mostly the recent wins. Ask a State fan when the first college football game was played and they'd tell you 2008. Interestingly, they have become exactly what they claim to hate about Michigan: arrogant. At work the Spartans have become completely insufferable (to the point of even claiming they dominated Michigan this year a la previous years even though they never led until there were all zeros on the clock).
Many of us live in Michigan and we have to deal with Spartans much more often than buckeyes. It is comical to see how they act when they win. I got a text last night from a friend from high school who went to State and it said "Good game for us, what time does Michigan play?" Great, you just won a Big Ten championship and you're still talking about Michigan. To there's a combination of irony, an inferiority complex, their constant need for praise and validation, the "disrespect" thing, etc.
December 6th, 2015 at 10:57 AM ^
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December 6th, 2015 at 10:52 AM ^
I cant stand their whole "It's us against the world" and "chip on our shoulder" mentality. Certainly they have been disrespected in the past, but they have been a very good football program as of late, and at some point, you have to drop that charade. I coach high school football and we always tell our kids that there are two kinds of people in this world: Those who are humble, and those who are about to be humbled. Sparty was a dropped punt snap away from being put in their place. It will happen...eventually.
December 6th, 2015 at 11:02 AM ^
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December 6th, 2015 at 10:52 AM ^
I used to root for them when they weren't playing Michigan, wouldn't you know.
December 6th, 2015 at 10:54 AM ^
But seriously, as I became a Michigan fan from NY and then as a student and alumnus, we beat Sparty regularly. It seemed like every 3 years or so they would pull an upset but there was no doubt we owned them.
Now after watching our hoops program crater in the past 20 years and Izzo taking advantage of that (to his credit), we are suffering a similar fate in football. Look at the series history in both sports and you'll see who the "Leaders and Best" are. But only recent history truly counts.
Dantonio is easy to hate which I do just like I hate Izzo. They whine and bitch and moan but I will admit they are very very good if not great coaches. Dantonio had the fortune of us heading into a historic low point for our program. To his credit he built his up.
Still, with JH on board we are headed in the right direction and have competent people in charge. We always run a program to be proud of rather than some of the scum that comes out if East Lansing.
The past 8 years have hurt but rest assured well emerge stronger. Our hate will always be there for Sparty but there is no doubt who out #1 enemy is.
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December 6th, 2015 at 10:54 AM ^
December 6th, 2015 at 11:06 AM ^
I am also tired of the soap box fans saying we are becoming them. Not even close. You can despise your Rivals and talk about it on a forum without becoming your rival or obsessed. Those holier than thou types are the biggest tools on this board.
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December 6th, 2015 at 11:12 AM ^
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December 6th, 2015 at 4:23 PM ^
My take is that we're a better university in general. Would you pay out of state tuition to go to Michigan or State? I don't live in Michigan after I graduated and I have met very few, if any, Sparty alums, either undergrad or grad school, since I left Michigan and that was over 20 years ago. I have met a lot of Michigan undergrad or grad school alums all over the country.
Their beating us recently just gives them some sense of validation that they are "just as good" somehow.
December 6th, 2015 at 4:23 PM ^
My take is that we're a better university in general. Would you pay out of state tuition to go to Michigan or State? I don't live in Michigan after I graduated and I have met very few, if any, Sparty alums, either undergrad or grad school, since I left Michigan and that was over 20 years ago. I have met a lot of Michigan undergrad or grad school alums all over the country.
Their beating us recently just gives them some sense of validation that they are "just as good" somehow.
December 6th, 2015 at 10:56 AM ^
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Someone being honest. Thank you
December 6th, 2015 at 10:58 AM ^
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OK - with the "white trash morons" part, I gotta ask- Is this an economic social class thing? A burbs vs. country thing?
December 6th, 2015 at 11:42 AM ^