Congrats Sparty
January 2nd, 2014 at 3:05 PM ^
Exactly what I expected from the UM fan base when reading through these comments - there are mixed feelings regarding MSU's success. Let me just say that if UM had just won the Rose Bowl, I think that there would be more hatred shown in comments on MSU's blogs than there is on this blog.
First, I appreciate the admiration (or whatever you would call it) y'all have shown. As a Spartan, this season was definitely a long time a comin'. In fact, during the John L years (*face slap*), I would have never expected something like this. I think Spartan Nation has finally had a taste of what it's like to be Big Brother, and I mean that with admiration.
Second, I hope MSU's win is seen as a win for the B1G. I wholeheartedly cheered for UM in its bowl game against K-State. Although, it was probably easier to do so because of the bowl game and surrounding circumstances - that is, it would have been more difficult to cheer for a UM victory in the Rose Bowl than in the BWW bowl. With that said, however, my loyalties are with the conference whenever our teams play against non-conference opponents (i.e. ACC/B1G challenge).
Similarly, (although, not totally analogous) it was tough to cheer for UM last year in basketball because of the feeling that your basketball program had finally caught up to MSU's (note: an argument could be made that the programs are equal with MSU having more recent success since the late 90s, UM success in the 80s and early 90s, and MSU success with Magic). Maybe it's this feeling that MSU's football program is finally on equal footing with UM's that is creating this animosity. Or, perhaps, it's just the nature of having two in-state "rival" universities. Whatever the cause, I know it's hard to cheer for the "other."
As to the future of both programs, I don't think UM has anything to worry about, even with MSU's "rise" to prominence (however long that may last). As a Spartan, I am envious of UM's football and sports history (we can't forget hockey - probably the most consistently dominant program the last two decades), UM's academics, the beautiful City of Ann Arbor, and the great culture and community accompanying the above.
It's easy to recruit when you have everything that UM has in place. I also don't believe that football in this state is necessarily a zero-sum game. Both programs can find success (although, one team has to win head-to-head). MSU and UM don't always target the same recruits. UM has a much more extensive recruiting reach than MSU, and that has everything to do with its brand and image. MSU has considerable catching up to do in this category, and one Rose Bowl win won't change this.
UM has the infrastructure, the money, the brand, and the will (no pun intended - Spartans Will) to continue to be an elite football program. It's easy to see MSU's recent success as a threat to UM's long-standing tradition and elite national status. But it's more than just a Rose Bowl win and three double digit win seasons the past four years. What creates and continues success is the infrastructure underlying the football program. Michigan has this. This won't change, and I'm jealous of UM in that respect. MSU is finally laying its foundation.