For anybody who held grudging respect for Captain Kirk (Freep Warning)

Submitted by Maximinus Thrax on

These quotes so perfectly encapsulate the Sparty mindset and their inability to accept their position as the number 2 team in Michigan (at least from the perspective of the local and national buzz they create) that they almost seem fake.  It's the Freep, so maybe they are.  Nonetheless, they are truly delicious.

 

"Or they'll root for me every game but one," said Cousins, a fifth-year senior and third-year starter. "That's when you start to realize who is with you and who is not with you.

"It's like saying ... I'm for you, but I'm not for your wife and kids. The bottom line is you're either for Michigan State and for Kirk or you're not. There is no in-between. I think this game is a perfect example of that, and that's why it's so personal."

 

http://www.freep.com/article/20111014/SPORTS07/110140447/Michigan-State-QB-Kirk-Cousins-Showdown-U-M-personal-

RationalMSUfan

October 14th, 2011 at 7:33 AM ^

Kirk Cousins is a bad kid.  No parent would want their son to turn out like Kirk Cousins.

Can you imagine if your child were quoted for 4 years as often as Kirk has been?

Overall, I think he does a pretty good job.

Plus, I know from personal experience that the kid does more for other children than 99% of us.

 

But you don't like his rivalry quote.

rbgoblue

October 14th, 2011 at 7:48 AM ^

No one is insinuating that Kirk Cousins is a bad kid.  Not very rational of you, RationalMSUfan.  I'm sure he does a lot for kids and all, and thats great, because they can give him the unrequited love that he seems to be so desparately longing for.  It must be hard to have friends when you make such a finite distinction between those who support you and those who don't.

k1400

October 14th, 2011 at 7:53 AM ^

I don't like his rivalry quote because its wrong for anyone whos second favorite team is Michigan State, and wrong for anyone who happens to like Kirk Cousins but not Michigan State.

For the record:  Michigan State is not my second favorite team, and I don't care one way or the other about Kirk Cousins.

So.... if Sparty is Kirk's wife, who are the kids?  Makes more sense now why Sparty wears a skirt.

Tater

October 14th, 2011 at 8:17 AM ^

Sorry, temporarily irrational MSU fan, but Cousins comes off as a spoiled little baby with this quote.  After all of the press he got for his pre-season speech, it's almost sad to see him reveal that he is, indeed, nothing special.  

Really, though, it should come as no surprise.  I have said that MSU is overrated all along, and wasn't really all that impressed with his pre-season, Sparty evangelism.  Apparently, Cousins wasn't quite ready for the Thom Brenneman-Tim Tebow-style butt-kissing he has gotten from the media.  

Anyone who cheers for Michigan is "agianst Kirk Cousins."  Puh-leeze.  The massive MSU inferioity complex rears its rather humorous head yet again.  It is time for Kirk Cousins to see how many people are "against Kirk Cousins" when he eats turf numerous times on Saturday.

Maximinus Thrax

October 14th, 2011 at 8:32 AM ^

Not a bad kid....just comes off like a douche here.  Kind of an immature (yes I realize he is a college kid, but I thought he was "special").  As if he thought anybody who was a lifelong Michigan fan would somehow coalesce behind the unifying force that is Kirk Cousins and cheer the Spartans on as they battle evil (UM).  It's like he is just realizing that his personal goals/travails have very little impact on the people in the community in which he grew up.  Sorry to break it to you Kirk, but that's how life is in general.  Lucky he didn't go to school with me.  I would have not made any pretense about supporting him at any time during the year. 

jblaze

October 14th, 2011 at 8:57 AM ^

your QB, as you should. However, you don't have any reasoning behind it. What does # of quotes during a 4 year period mean anyway? Why is that relevant? If he does more for the kids, give examples or data.

Sparty, it's 1 day before the game, up yours!

LSAClassOf2000

October 14th, 2011 at 7:19 AM ^

He would say something...well...a bit middle school. Can your respect for a person actually dip below zero if that person is Kirk Cousins? We should get Mathlete on that one.

kevin holt

October 14th, 2011 at 7:28 AM ^

But I am really not with you. That is a terrible, terrible analogy you've just conjured up.

Also, while you're reading this, tell your parents how much it annoys me that they named you Kirk Cousins instead of Kurt Cousins, because there is no easy way to pause in between the two k sounds. It makes me hate you even more on a linguistic level, which is hard to accomplish.

Raback Omaba

October 14th, 2011 at 7:45 AM ^

I hope these quotes were taken out of context....either that, or Kirk needs to lighten up a little bit. I understand that we are all very passionate about our respective teams/universities, and for Kirk Cousin's it is even more so because he's right in the middle of it, but c'mon man...........when all is said and done, it's just a football game that is being played saturday. Win or Lose, there are much more important things in life to get your panties all tangled up about. We also have to remember that he is still a college kid too, and despite his buttoned up and cerebral attitude, he is still young.

With that the case, I wouldn't base my "respect" of Kirk Cousins on his views/feelings of the Michigan/MSU rivalry - Everything I've read about him is that he is an exceptional kid and one that we should praise. I would say absolutely that I respect him and would love to have a kid like that as part of our University.

Having said that, if these quotes aren't taken out of context and if he does have strong feelings towards those who cheer for UofM, he needs to chill, relax and realize that it's all in good fun and just a game.

 

Nothing personal.

MH20

October 14th, 2011 at 8:05 AM ^

If you read the article (I know, I know, Freep) it sounds like he's talking about some his former HS classmates and people in the Holland area.  As in, they want him to do well but ultimately want Michigan to win the game.

Either way, it's a weird article and some bizarre quotes for sure.  It sounds like he is, in fact, very personally hurt by everyone he knows not hardcore rooting for MSU.

JohnnyBlue

October 14th, 2011 at 8:51 AM ^

i have cousins that went to school with him in hs and this article pretty much sums up the vibe i get from them. captain kirk needs to remember that two of his hs classmates play for the school he will be facing tommrow. just because he is the qb of mooo u doesnt make them less worthy of the support of his old classmates

Kaminski16

October 14th, 2011 at 9:11 AM ^

I agree. I know that if one of my friends went to MSU to play football and found success, I would wish nothing but the best for him. However, as a lifetime Michigan fan / now student, I feel like a rational friend would not expect me to completely alter my lifestyle and habits to support HIM and HIS SCHOOL over MY SCHOOL. As someone previously stated, there's that inferiority complex; everyone should cheer for State because I'M HERE! Why would you be a Michigan fan!?!? Don't you realize a local kid is playing quarterback at State! I'm offended! 

 

Nothsa

October 14th, 2011 at 9:25 AM ^

I didn't read the article, but... Cousins probably does find it annoying when people come up and say things like, "hey, I want you to do really well on Saturday but I'm rooting for the Wolverines". His comments appear to be a response to that kind of sentiment, and in that context they are not unreasonable or sophomoric. I wouldn't be surprised if the reporter asked a question like, "what do you say to someone who tells you..." Then, once the article is published, Cousins looks like a dork. This seems to happen frequently in journalism. Much ado about nothing.

St Pete Schembechler

October 14th, 2011 at 8:21 AM ^

This kid drinks more Sparty kool-aid than his fans do. He acts as if he was predestined to be the MSU QB. As I recall from the speech that the Green contingent seems to continually gush over, "Captain Kirk" desperately wanted to be a Hawkeye, or a Wildcat, or a Boilermaker (talk about violating his own rules about being 'for' something). It was only when he was headed straight for the MAC that Dantonio came calling. Sparty was one of the last places the good "Captain" thought he'd end up, so fogive me for not buying his "no in-between" shtick.

El Jeffe

October 14th, 2011 at 8:42 AM ^

I think we're being a little hard on the Beav here. If we gave the e-smackdown to every athlete who viewed the world as an "us vs. them" proposition and referred to himself in the third person, we'd have no time to post threads about mostly innocent but maybe a little misguided comments by other teams' players.

BOOM WORMHOLE'D

On the other hand it is hate week, so carry on.

ItsaDamnGame

October 14th, 2011 at 8:56 AM ^

I like Kirk Cousins, I like that he's from a small Christian school that hadn't had an established football program when he played there - and he's a good kid.  I tolerate MSU, like I tolerate NW and Illinois.  I hate Mark Dantonio and I hope the team he coaches loses miserably every weekend.

TXmaizeNblue

October 14th, 2011 at 9:02 AM ^

I don't see how this quote should change my perception of Kirk Cousins?  What's he supposed to say "UofM is going to beat us, you should root for them, and celebrate their awesomeness!"   I realize this is hate week, but come on man.  If Denard said the same thing everyone on here would be praising and defending those comments.  

Volverine

October 14th, 2011 at 9:36 AM ^

Really? We would like Denard referring to his teammates as his wife and kids? I admire that he sees himself as part of a unit and you can't like one part of the unit without liking the whole unit, but we wouldn't admire Denard for saying something like this.

Also, does anyone else find it funny that MSU took such offense to being called Little Brother but Kirk Cousins is carrying on the family anology when referring to his team?

SysMark

October 14th, 2011 at 9:17 AM ^

Reminds me a little of the great William Shatner himself...saying strange things and looking a little odd.

Difference is WS is likeable...while little brother Kirk is decidedly not

Michael Scarn

October 14th, 2011 at 9:24 AM ^

This shouldn't be an issue for MSU going forward.  It's unlikely that their next starting QB will be from Michigan, what with their national recruiting class and all, so he won't feel the same about the rivalry and people from his hometown won't be torn like this.