ND v MSU - Who To Root For?
This is no Sooners v Buckeyes, that was a no brainer. A little more challenging decision here.
Reasons to root for Sparty – Watch Brian Kelly’s purple head explode, fun to see Sparty stick a dagger in ND again and again, good for reputation of BIG conference, helps ND look weaker in Midwest recruiting battles, and always fun to watch obnoxious Irish fans hang their heads in dismay.
Reasons to root for the Domers – See Mark D look grim and pissed, takes Sparty off the “we’re back” belief after 2 MAC wins, helps us look stronger in state of Michigan recruiting, and just fun to watch the Sparty fans with an inferiority, little brother complex get it stuck to them.
My Pick – Tough call. Screw Sparty, and to hell with Notre Dame. Hate them both with a passion. Would like to see a close game with glaring mistakes on both sides, and the two teams inflict pain (no severe injuries) on each other. Ultimately – I just love seeing Notre Dame lose. May as well have MSU win before we take them down in 3 weeks. Very, very slightly rooting for Sparty – but no big deal if they lose.
Interested in others perspective.
September 18th, 2017 at 12:01 PM ^
September 18th, 2017 at 12:07 PM ^
That and their highly acclaimed box making department
September 18th, 2017 at 3:21 PM ^
Buddy of mine went to msu.....and sells boxes for a living which attests to the accolades of the box program.
September 18th, 2017 at 12:02 PM ^
Root against MSU. ND already lost, the hype train has gone off the tracks, and Kelly has his many detractors. They're in limbo of what to do about Kelly, and I want him to win to ensure he stays and ND stays mediocre.
More importantly, I want Sparty to continue their descent into terribleness. They've had too much success recently and 3-9 was delicious last year. I want that to continue. They're 2-0 and have some portions of the fan base who are getting excited and delusional about the team this year. I want that excitement crushed. I want to see Dantonio gone at years end and see MSU hire a mediocre coach who will keep them mediocre.
If ND was 3-0 and MSU 1-1 I'd say root for MSU so both teams have a loss, but since it's reverse, I'm rooting hard for ND.
September 18th, 2017 at 12:03 PM ^
September 18th, 2017 at 12:04 PM ^
I'll never support the right hand of Satan. Go ND!
The bigger question is, which head coach leaves first?
September 18th, 2017 at 12:23 PM ^
September 18th, 2017 at 12:05 PM ^
September 18th, 2017 at 12:05 PM ^
September 18th, 2017 at 12:06 PM ^
1 - We recruit more against ND than MSU
2 - All time wins and win%
September 18th, 2017 at 12:06 PM ^
MSU and if you think it's a hard decision, you are not a rational person.
A) An ND win, weakens MSU, which then weakens Michigan's SOS.
Now, I'm sure some people will chime in with the "If Michigan wins every game, they will be in the playoff" line. Since posting back to back undefeated records in 1947-48, Michigan has been undefeated just three times in 68 years. That includes two years where they finished with one or more ties. They have finished with one loss just six times in that span. It's far more likely that Michigan finishes with two or more losses. Can a two loss team get into the playoff? PSU came close last year (and in hindsight should have gotten in). It will happen at some point.
B) Recruiting wise, Michigan will always out recruit MSU.
Michigan did pre-Dantonio, they did during the RR era, they did during the Hoke era, and they are doing it now during the Harbaugh era. Michigan goes head to head with ND for way more recruits than it goes head to head with MSU. ND's 2018 class is currently ranked #8, Michigan's is ranked #16 with a similar average to ND, and MSU's is ranked #35. An ND win shows recruits that ND is back on track with Kelly. An MSU win shows recruits that MSU is...still second fiddle to Michigan.
September 18th, 2017 at 12:09 PM ^
I moved away from Michigan when I graduated 20+ years ago. Back then I would have rooted for MSU against ND because ND was a real rival, and MSU was so bad that I was mostly indifferent.
But having moved back in-state 15 years ago, I am so sick of listening to the Spartan dimwits over the past several years, I want ND to beat them by 50.
Before you comment, I know and acknowledge that it's probably irrational, but so is sports fandom, generally speaking.
September 18th, 2017 at 12:10 PM ^
ND thinks they're good no matter their record. MSU will quietly know their place (regardless of how they view UM) after a loss. It's more satisfying to see those jort-wearing, musachioed hospitality majors slink back to their failed meth labs after each loss.
I'm going with Freakbass: We Are ND
September 18th, 2017 at 12:11 PM ^
September 18th, 2017 at 12:15 PM ^
Rejoice in the loser!!!
Ignore the winner.
September 18th, 2017 at 12:18 PM ^
I'm rooting for Notre Dame. I hate MSU more than Notre Dame.
Also, shocker - someone used the cliché "meteor" comment.
September 18th, 2017 at 12:23 PM ^
September 18th, 2017 at 12:25 PM ^
Once upon a time I thought Kelly+ND would be a nightmare for us. But now, it looks like him staying right there is fine. So a ND win isn't particularly troublesome.
But then again, my hate scale differs a bit from others: OSU>ND>MSU
I don't take Groucho Mark all that seriously ... his moment of glory was almost entirely due to the aberration in our program's history. So the Moosters are back in their proper spot (3rd place) when I am stabbing out at others from hell's heart.
So ... go MSU? (I feel dirty)
September 18th, 2017 at 12:28 PM ^
September 18th, 2017 at 12:38 PM ^
THe Hierarchy of Evil goes thusly:
1) Ohio State
2) Notre Dame
3) Michigan State
Penn State is right behind State, as is pretty much any SEC team.
So, being that the outcome of the game really has no bearing on Michigan's season this year, the Hierarchy of Evil dictates that you root for State as they are the lesser of two evils in this scenario.
September 18th, 2017 at 12:30 PM ^
September 18th, 2017 at 12:41 PM ^
i f***ing hate sparty, it's irrational, but I just can't ever cheer them on.
September 18th, 2017 at 12:49 PM ^
Historically, I would've opted to root harder against Notre Dame, but lately, anything that further tarnishes Dantonio's legacy, I'm all for.
Nothing would please me more than for Mark's post-career epilogue to come with a bevy of qualifiers to go along with his list of achievements. Perhaps something like this...
"Dantonio was easily the best coach at MSU since Duffy Daugherty, bringing the Spartans 3 Big 10 Championships, a Rose Bowl title, an appearance in the CFP, and a winning record against hated rival Michigan. Despite all these achievements, Dantonio was never able to take this success and build upon it to create a stable, top tier Big 10 program. With the arrival of Jim Harbaugh at Michigan and Jim Franklin at Penn State leading to a resurgence in those respective programs, Dantonio's later teams struggled to reach .500 season-to-season and consistently found themselves unable to compete in the now stronger conference environment."
So, yeah, Fuck MSU this Saturday.
September 18th, 2017 at 1:02 PM ^
Notre Dame is the more prestigious and accomplished program and it is always a satisfying, joyous occasion to watch them lose. Sparty is detestable as well, but since I started following college football 25 years ago, they've been OK, sometimes very good, but they often border on being irrelevant. ND has been erratic in that time period too but was really dangerous back in the day. Plus, ND has ruined many of Michigan's seasons over the years. And most importantly, they dropped the series with Michigan but chose to keep State on the schedule. And for that they need to suffer.
September 18th, 2017 at 1:07 PM ^
September 18th, 2017 at 1:10 PM ^
September 18th, 2017 at 1:17 PM ^
This game is meaningless to me.
Insignificant bowl.
September 18th, 2017 at 3:15 PM ^
to tell us how insignificant this game is to you, your lack of interest is crystal clear.
September 18th, 2017 at 1:24 PM ^
Love the avatar.
First of all Rat, you never let on how much you like a girl. "Oh, Debbie. Hi." Two, you always call the shots. "Kiss me. You won't regret it." Now three, act like wherever you are, that's the place to be. "Isn't this great?" Four, when ordering food, you find out what she wants, then order for the both of you. It's a classy move. "Now, the lady will have the linguini and white clam sauce, and a Coke with no ice." And five, now this is the most important, Rat. When it comes down to making out, whenever possible, put on side one of Led Zeppelin IV.
September 18th, 2017 at 1:30 PM ^
First because I want MSU to lose and second because I want Kelly to save his job.
I'd want him back for 2 years so JH can school him.
September 18th, 2017 at 1:32 PM ^
I know this must be from a movie but Jesus Christ I can't recall everthing. Could you please be more obscure?
September 18th, 2017 at 1:36 PM ^
Never root for either ND or MSU.
Question should be, who do I want to lose more? Or, what loss benefits Michigan more?
Imhe, I'd rather ND lose, because I truly believe Michigan is going to kill MSU anyway.
September 18th, 2017 at 1:46 PM ^
3 - 9 = - 6 x 2 seasons = -12
September 18th, 2017 at 2:20 PM ^
It's going to a sludgefart of a game, most likely. ND can't throw the ball, MSU can't defend the air. So it's just going to be guys slamming in each other for 4 quarters. As always, I root for the asteroid.
September 18th, 2017 at 3:27 PM ^
My ex wife and the majority of her family hate on UM irrationally (with the exception of her Dad who is solid UM). Worked in EL for 6 yrs during RR/Hoke era. My a-hole of a brother (still love him) hates UM and has passed down the hatred to my 2 nephews. I've eaten enough shit sandwiches from al them and more to last a lifetime
Fuck msu.
September 18th, 2017 at 4:48 PM ^
you never root for Sparty, NEVER. Under no circumstances is a sparty win good. Never.
September 18th, 2017 at 5:00 PM ^
September 18th, 2017 at 5:50 PM ^
I hope they both look incompetent and that the winner wins in a way that seems almost worse than winning.
September 18th, 2017 at 8:01 PM ^
September 18th, 2017 at 10:25 PM ^
September 20th, 2017 at 1:14 PM ^
and fuck sparty, hoping for sparty to get shut out. Shut. Out. I really hate that program, worse than ND.
September 20th, 2017 at 3:03 PM ^
Sparty schadenfreude is the best. I hope the Matthew Dantonio loses.
September 20th, 2017 at 4:41 PM ^
September 20th, 2017 at 4:41 PM ^
September 20th, 2017 at 5:09 PM ^
RULES:
- Flag - drink
- Turnover - drink
- Dropped pass - drink
- Mention of previous year's record - drink
- Mention of program's former glory - drink
- Mention of players suspended from team - drink
- Image on screen of coach with scowl or red face - drink
This should make the game tolerable.