OT: Need Moral Support from My MGoBlog Family

Submitted by FauxMo on

I won't go into too many details - as I certainly don't want any of "you people" finding out who I am in real life - but here is my dilemma. Diehard, lifetime UM fan. Lived in Ann Arbor for the last 15 years, and in the area for most of my life. Did not do undergrad at UM, but did some grad work here, and also worked at UM for almost a decade. Do not follow any other sports teams, amateur or pro. I am full-blood UM. Short of poisoning trees or painting my face, I am as rabid a UM fan as you can get.

 

Well, to make a long story short, I am now going to be working a little at....Michigan State University in East Lansing, Michigan. Won't be my full time job (which still connects to UM), but I will be working right on the campus. Is it normal to feel as disloyal as I do? Should I have passed up a great career opportunity because of football and basketball? Are these dry-heaves normal??

 

Signed,

 

Confused in Ann Arbor 

MGoBoard

charblue.

December 1st, 2015 at 1:13 PM ^

to school somewhere other than Michigan. I lived in the city for a decade and my wife, the MSU grad, has been to the Big House more than me and she still roots passionately for her own school even though she never went to any football games when she attended school in East Lansing. How about that for a paradox? She's a bigger fan now than she was back then, thanks mainly to Dantonio's success.

Joined: 05/25/2010

MGoPoints: 11393

The Bugle

December 1st, 2015 at 1:26 PM ^

I'll cosign here as well. Don't feel bad in the slightest. When applying for medical school I applied to Michigan State and even Ohio State.  Luckily, I didn't end up at either of those places. However, if I did I would still be happy to be improving myself professionally.  Football loyalties be damned, this is about Monday-Friday, not Saturday.  I don't think any sane person should fault you at all for your decision.

Joined: 10/22/2009

MGoPoints: 129

FauxMo

December 1st, 2015 at 2:33 PM ^

Because I travel so much to developing countries, I have an open script for both Penicillin and Ciprofloxacin. It keeps me in good shape from stomach bacteria, and in case I love an "unclean woman". Should work for MSU as well...

Joined: 06/17/2010

MGoPoints: 137564

Lampuki22

December 1st, 2015 at 1:26 PM ^

You are "working" there part time for a little while?  I don't see dilemma. Take their money or whatever and pronounce that you think they are inferior.   

What I want to know his how am I going to deal with having to consider sending kids (my own blood)  to State.  I dislike them more than any other school or program, perhaps more than anything else in the universe. 

Will my kids get into Michigan or other great out of state schools when they are older? I don't know, perhaps but but if they are not amazing students considering I prepaid for a bunch of Michigan education I have to consider state and if I go on campus there or see my kids wearing Spartoon gear I wil literally puke.   

I literally find myself rationalizing that Grand Valley and Oakland U may have just passed MSU in certain academic fields or are better options. Mind you my oldest is only 13.

How do other MgoParents deal with this issue?  Anyone not offered to pay if the choices is that other "school" in East Lansing?  I am seriously consideing it, although my wife, also a Michigan grad thinks I'm ridiculous (which I tend to agree with but that doesn't change the pit of my gut feeling). 

Joined: 09/16/2009

MGoPoints: 7298

FrankMurphy

December 1st, 2015 at 1:25 PM ^

No, I don't think you should pass up a great career opportunity because of rooting interests. A lot of my pre-med friends in college were rabid Michigan fans but ended up going to medical school at MSU (which is actually a pretty good school for primary care, apparently) because it was the best (and in some cases the only) medical school they got into. It would have been crazy for them to pass up that opportunity just because MSU is a rival. 

Joined: 08/19/2008

MGoPoints: 31953

abatteau

December 1st, 2015 at 1:34 PM ^

It's your career.  I was commuting up there 3 days a week for a solid year, assiting a professor (another Michigan alum).  Wore my Michigan gear with pride.   Most people there are awesome rivals, friendly ribbing before the games. Some are annoying Dantonio-lovers who like to throw recent history in our faces, but they tend to be over blown windbags who have nothing but the last few years to cling on to.  All the best in your work. 

Joined: 12/01/2015

MGoPoints: 4

pdgoblue25

December 1st, 2015 at 1:34 PM ^

a conversation about your career.

I went to Ohio State as a Michigan fan because at the time the only other option for Welding Engineering was Ferris State.  My father was smart enough to take me to visit Ferris State in the dead of winter.  My decision was easier after that visit.

Joined: 03/03/2010

MGoPoints: 18964

erald01

December 1st, 2015 at 1:46 PM ^

There are a lot of msu alums that work not only in ann arbor but for UofM. My wife works for UofM and 2 of her coworkers arw msu alums. Being a fan is one thing, paying the bills is another. If Michigan athletic dept can pay the bills for you then i say quiy the msu job asap.



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LSAClassOf2000

December 1st, 2015 at 1:52 PM ^

Yeah, don't pass up experience in your career simply because the campus you would be working on happens to be the campus of a rival school. I don't see how one cannot separate their professional life from their fandom - that seems like a relatively easy thing to keep separate. That's not the sort of thing that should enter into a discussion of career really. 

As an example, the doctor at Michigan that was my allergist growing up was an OSU grad, and the dude worked wonders with my histamine levels despite the fandom disagreement. 

Joined: 01/07/2011

MGoPoints: 130623

LB

December 1st, 2015 at 1:54 PM ^

ARE YOU OUT OF YOUR PEA-PICKING MIND? UNACCEPTABLE!

As a person, if it's a good fit and you're happy with everything else, go for it. Always remember, everything is cyclic and football was not invented in 2008, despite what they'd have you think.

Joined: 09/26/2009

MGoPoints: 25587

sadeto

December 1st, 2015 at 2:10 PM ^

As a part of ongoing sponsored research I do with a team at tOSU, they put me on the faculty as guest research faculty member at their College of Public Health. This makes it easier for them to continue to work with me and my firm without constantly going out to bid. They also get a huge kick out of it because I am a UM PhD. It's really annoying, especially just about every November when they advise me to consider changing my loyalties after The Game. But it never even crossed my mind to reconsider working with them, we do great work, it's been great for my career and the objectives have absolutely nothing to do with sports. So focus on your work and getting everything you can out of the opportunity. 

Joined: 01/17/2014

MGoPoints: 10469

gopoohgo

December 1st, 2015 at 2:50 PM ^

for residency; UM undergrad and grad school.  Rotated at UM, but interviewed at both OSU and UM.

On the drive back from Columbus, asked my then girlfriend (now Mrs/Dr Gopoohgo) what she thought about living in Columbus for 4 years.  Her response: "You?  At Ohio State??  Do I have the wrong number?"

Ranked UM, OSU 1 and 2, matched at UM :).  I ALMOST flipped them around in my rank-list.

Gotta go with what opportunities present themselves; sports/school pride is important, but you shouldn't make career decisions based on that.

Joined: 09/12/2011

MGoPoints: 10661

Humid in Tampa

December 1st, 2015 at 5:26 PM ^

When I was in the police academy in Lansing, we would run on the MSU campus 2-3 days per week. We took the path along the river by the Breslin, Sparty, the stadium, and then somewhere further into campus. I always wore maize and blue and returned any obnoxious comments with devasting wit.

Early one November morning I found myself approaching Sparty and the cadre of students guarding him. The large M on my chest signaled impending danger and they all climbed out of their sleeping bags into the freezing air. We exchanged pleasantries and I carried on my way.

Joined: 05/15/2015

MGoPoints: 190

UndercoverBlue

December 1st, 2015 at 7:09 PM ^

I'm an undergrad student at MSU right now... decided a degree from a respected university was more important than my rooting interests. There are great people and opportunities here, though it has been pretty hard not having people around who love UM athletics like I do.

I finally came to grips this fall that I love both MSU and UM... But I'd still rather see the Wolverines in the B1G title game this week



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