U of M's biggest rival?

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November 21st, 2011 at 7:19 PM
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Wolverine Incognito
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U of M's biggest rival?

I received an interesting phone call last night.  It was from a buddy I used to work with down here in Columbus, OH.  (For those of you who don't know, I live in Columbus, OH*. )  After a bit of small talk he asked me what I thought was a simple question:  Who is Michigan's biggest rival.  Without even blinking I responded:  Ohio (State). 

I had a split second to wonder why he would ask me such a question.  Were there going to be follow up questions to a question with such a simple answer?  But after a split second, I heard a bunch of "Oooooooooooohhhhhhs!" in the background.  I immediately knew what this question was about.

Let me back up a little bit.  2 years ago, I began working in Columbus.  One day, I got into a discussion with a co-worker about the rivalry.  Now, she has lived in Ohio her whole life although she didn't attend the State University in Ohio.  However, I was surprised when she said that Sparty is actually Michigan's biggest rival.  I immediately corrected her, and asked if it was a Spartan fan who misinformed her.  She told me no, it was a Michigan fan.  I found this odd...

About a year later, I was standing in line to donate blood plasma (still in Columbus) and I heard a gentleman in line (he was an Ohio fan) proclaim that Michigan considered Sparty as their biggest rival.  I didn't feel like correcting him, but I was confused and a bit disturbed.

Back to last night.  After I heard the "Ooooohhhhs!" in the background of the phone call, I was pretty sure why my buddy had asked me this question.  I asked for an explanation anyway, and he explained that one of his coworkers is from Boston and made the audacious claim that Sparty is Michigan's biggest rival, not Ohio. I didn't ask if the gentlemen from Boston attended MSU or not since I was a little ticked off.  I immediately responded:  Sparty THINKS their our biggest rival.  But it is Ohio.  I heard another batch of "Ooooooooooohhhhhs!" in the background.  My buddy thanked me for clearing that up, and I told him I was delighted to do so.

So now, this leads me to some questions.  I always thought Ohio was our biggest rival, at least since the days of Woody "ThroatPuncher" Hayes.  I also assume the majority of MFans consider Ohio our biggest rival.  Does anyone out there  consider Sparty to be our biggest rival?

And my next question:  How in the world did this rumor about Sparty being our biggest rival get started?

I have been curious and, frankly, a bit distressed about this misconception, and I wanted to get some of your thoughts.

*I have also learned to breathe through my mouth.

Homer? Who is Homer? My name is Wolverine Incognito.

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November 21st, 2011 at 7:21 PM | Ohio. That is ALL. End of (Score:5 Normal)
UMLaw73
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Ohio. That is ALL. End of conversation.

NO Music, Concerts, Ads, "Playing Dress-Up", Night Games, 3:30 Games, Neutral Site Games, And No MASCOTS

November 21st, 2011 at 10:05 PM | there isn't even a conversation (Score:2 Normal)
Qmich
Joined: 03/30/2011
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Been a fan of Michigan since I was a little kid, attended for 6 years to get two degrees... I don't understand what the MSU game is besides the time of year when the kids that dropped out of my physics class in high school send me the text "goin down this saturday brah?"

I believe that Michigan Football will not merely endure: it will prevail

November 21st, 2011 at 10:32 PM | I'm still baffled (Score:2 Normal)
M-Wolverine
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How this thread went any further than this post.

"I love him, he's a great coach, he's a great mentor, he's a great friend. He's every single thing you want a college coach to be, and he does it flawlessly." -David Molk

November 21st, 2011 at 10:54 PM | Depends on definition. (Score:-1 Flamebait)
November 22nd, 2011 at 10:47 AM | Notre Dame (Score:0)
November 21st, 2011 at 7:22 PM | It stems from insidious (Score:5 Normal)
Syyk
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It stems from insidious Spartan propaganda and an over-reliance on geography.

November 21st, 2011 at 9:20 PM | What was said above plus that (Score:1)
Wolverine862
Joined: 10/07/2011
MGoPoints: 47

What was said above plus that fact that Sparty needs to make it seem like they are our biggest rivals to give their seasons meaning if/when they win against us.

November 21st, 2011 at 7:23 PM | Well they kicked the crap out (Score:0 Flamebait)
November 21st, 2011 at 7:25 PM | Yea, but between 1975 and (Score:3 Normal)
Wolverine Incognito
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Yea, but between 1975 and 2005 they have NOT made much of a case.  I would think that 5 years a rivalry does not make.

Homer? Who is Homer? My name is Wolverine Incognito.

November 21st, 2011 at 7:28 PM | Unless Ohio State does (Score:-1 Flamebait)
November 21st, 2011 at 7:35 PM | One dirty game does not a (Score:5 Normal)
WolvinLA2
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One dirty game does not a bigger rivalry make.

If OSU had a hard fought, dirty game against Penn State, that doesn't make them a bigger rival than us.

November 21st, 2011 at 7:42 PM | ARGH (Score:3 Normal)
Hardware Sushi
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ARGH.

Pure conjecture, first of all. Losing 7 in a row to Ohio will probably also make you bitter toward OSU.

And rivalries are not measured in bitterness alone. The HUUUUUUUUUUUGE factor Sparty lacks is what we call 'Competitiveness', in which they score about a 3/10.

They've won 4 in a row during our worst modern three year stretch and beat us in our current coach's first season. Do not respond to my comment by saying they have historically been competitive - we just beat them 5 times in a row before that.

Intensity is a lot of guys that run fast.

November 21st, 2011 at 8:12 PM | Listen all I said is Michigan (Score:0 Flamebait)
November 21st, 2011 at 8:46 PM | No one's saying we don't care (Score:5 Normal)
Shaqsquatch
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No one's saying we don't care about that game. We're just saying that we care about the biggest rivalry in all of sports a little more.

The answer is OSU, no question, no hesitation. Until the last decade, I considered ND a bigger rival than MSU.

November 21st, 2011 at 8:45 PM | Actually, (Score:1)
bjk
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1970 to 2007.

I wanted to get a quick review of the over-all record in view of some very strong MSU football in the '50's and '60's, co-inciding with comparatively weak years for Blue (except 1964). When I typed in "Michigan-Michigan State football rivalry wiki," StartPage auto-corrected to "Michigan-Ohio State football rivalry wiki." When I patched the URL directly, Wiki's message was "Wikipedia does not have an article with this exact name (ie, M-MSU "rivalry"). I think you should suggest this google search to any sceptics you may run across.

I think that it's been tossed around on this board that EVERY team M plays thinks they are our #1 rival. Filter that phenomenon through an out-of-area MSM type's lazy assumptions about in-state rivalries, and perhaps this explains where this easily dispatched misconception originates.

November 21st, 2011 at 7:23 PM | Gary Moeller said it (Score:2)
danimal1968
Joined: 07/13/2008
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before the 1994 OSU-Michigan game.

November 21st, 2011 at 7:23 PM | Does anyone out there  (Score:5 Normal)
JClay
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Does anyone out there  consider Sparty to be our biggest rival?

How in the world did this rumor about Sparty being our biggest rival get started?

 

The answer to both questions is "Michigan State alumni."

"Here we are at Ohio Stadium, in front of 10,000 alumni and 74,000 truck drivers." - Bob Ufer

November 21st, 2011 at 8:49 PM | And: (Score:1)
Cheesecake Wizard
Joined: 10/30/2011
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All Michigan State fans.  Considering their only fans are Students and alumni, we can only add students.

November 21st, 2011 at 7:23 PM | This thread started the (Score:2)
ChuckWood
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This thread started the rumor.  We've had this debate several times.  the concensus is tOSU.

It's the same old story. Boy finds girl, boy loses girl, girl finds boy, boy forgets girl, boy remembers girl, girls dies in a tragic blimp accident over the Orange Bowl on New Year's Day. 

November 21st, 2011 at 7:23 PM | Absurd!! (Score:2 Normal)
G0B1U3
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To be completely frank/not being a dick...Anyone saying State is our biggest rival has a decent chance of being a closet State sympathizer..The only people I have ever heard consider MSU as our biggest rival are of course State fans. There is simply nothing like the Michigan-Ohio rivalry and never will be. Go Blue. Crush Ohio.

November 21st, 2011 at 8:03 PM | People (Score:2 Normal)
Yost Ghost
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outside The Rivalry, I'm looking at you Sparty, don't realize that there is bitter gridiron history behind The Rivalry as well as political and military history behind it. Let me explain...no there's too much..let me sum up. Ohio effectively blocked Michigans entry into the Union as the 26th state through many political machinations. Which eventually culminated in the very ugly matter of the Toledo War. Sparty is never going to live up to all that no matter how many personal fouls they ring up.

 
"True loyalty is that quality of service that grows under adversity and expands in defeat. Any street urchin can shout applause in victory, but it takes character to stand fast in defeat. One is nois
November 21st, 2011 at 10:15 PM | Umm, (Score:0 Offtopic)
November 22nd, 2011 at 12:56 AM | I said ugly not bloody. The (Score:1 Normal)
Yost Ghost
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I said ugly not bloody. The word bloody implies "horrible loss of life". Not sure why a border dispute involving armed militia's can't be considered a " very ugly" affair between border states.  Nowhere in the half  dozen historical records that I read does it mention that the militia's couldn't "reach each other" due to the "thickness" of the Great Black Swamp.

 
"True loyalty is that quality of service that grows under adversity and expands in defeat. Any street urchin can shout applause in victory, but it takes character to stand fast in defeat. One is nois
November 22nd, 2011 at 1:24 AM | ok, granted if that was your intention (Score:1)
Picktown GoBlue
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for ugly.  For the masses, there is the wikipedia entry on the Black Swamp and states the impact of its impassability, but, yes, it is wikipedia.  Perrysburg's history only indicates the Ohio militia were slowed and they lost equipment in trying to go north through the swamp.  The Detroit News has this:

"Men galloping about--guns getting ready--wagons being filled with people and hurrying off, and everybody in commotion. The two armies struggled for a soggy week to find each other in the wilderness and swamps surrounding the region, but never did come in contact."

From the reading I've done, between the thickness of the tall trees and/or the thickness of the mud, it was an issue that prevented the militias from reaching each other.

November 21st, 2011 at 7:24 PM | I actually dislike notre same the most (Score:1)
bouje13
Joined: 11/27/2010
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But it's close. They are like bizzaro world Michigan. And state is a distant 3rd

He only got the job because he's a Michigan Man not because he was the best.  Is that what Michigan is all about?  You do the best, you get the job.  This MM meme is crap.

November 21st, 2011 at 7:24 PM | People from Lansing (Score:3 Normal)
BlueBadger
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I know some people from the Lansing area who are reformed spartans. They think of the state game as the biggest one. Thats it though. I think you might find people who say that they think it is more important to beat state, but not that state is the bigger rival. I think wanting to beat state comes from the fact that losing to them is embaressing. Wanting to beat ohio comes from the rivalry. 

Warning: My imagination is inefficient.

November 21st, 2011 at 7:27 PM | Now THAT is insightful.  (Score:0 Overrated)
November 21st, 2011 at 7:24 PM | Ohio (Score:3 Normal)
ATLWolverine
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Though there are some in-state students/alums who consider MSU the more relevant rivalry because they have to deal with ribbing about a loss in that game for a full year.

They, however, are generally in the minority. All out of state and most in-state alums/students would agree that it is OSU.

So did this fellow named Bo Schembechler, so I'm going to go ahead and say that he gets the last word on that matter.

--

"the team, the team, the team."

November 21st, 2011 at 7:24 PM | WELL (Score:1)
Aamoldini
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If we lose to Sparty I guess we always hear about it more than if we lose to Ohio since we live next to and with Sparty fans. That could be a contributing factor. 

Plus Sparty, being little brother, should never beat us ever. Ohio, OTOH, is a better opponent so a loss in that game every now and then would be understandable(usually!).

1% of the MGoPosters have 99% of the negative points.
#OccupyBolivia

November 21st, 2011 at 7:25 PM | I've never heard that before, (Score:3 Normal)
go16blue
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I've never heard that before, even from delusional MSU fans. Maybe some of the OSU crazy is rubbing off on UM fans in Columbus.

COYS and lets go Detroit FC!

November 21st, 2011 at 7:30 PM | seconded (Score:2)
Bodogblog
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I've lived in Michigan my whole life, I've never heard of even an MSU fan believing it isn't Ohio

November 21st, 2011 at 7:26 PM | OSU in football (though I (Score:4 Normal)
enlightenedbum
Joined: 06/06/2009
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OSU in football (though I hate Notre Dame more), I think State legitimately is in every other sport though.  I haaaaaaaaate MSU hockey.

November 22nd, 2011 at 11:27 AM | yes, this is an important point (Score:1)
The Nicker
Joined: 08/30/2008
MGoPoints: 183

Ohio is clearly our biggest rival in football, but State is clearly our biggest rival in every other sport. The game trumps all, but in every other sport, I'd rather beat sparty

November 21st, 2011 at 7:27 PM | Well (Score:2 Normal)
BrownJuggernaut
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Back to last night. After I heard the "Ooooohhhhs!" in the background of the phone call, I was pretty sure why my buddy had asked me this question. I asked for an explanation anyway, and he explained that one of his coworkers is from Boston and made the audacious claim that Sparty is Michigan's biggest rival, not Ohio. I didn't ask if the gentlemen from Boston attended MSU or not since I was a little ticked off. I immediately responded: Sparty THINKS their our biggest rival. But it is Ohio. I heard another batch of "Ooooooooooohhhhhs!" in the background. My buddy thanked me for clearing that up, and I told him I was delighted to do so.

Unfortunately, Boston is not a very good college sports town even though it's renowned for its universities. Having grown up here, I can speak to its lack of enthusiasm. I don't think it's even a question who are biggest rival is. I would have the same reaction as you. "Why would someone ask me this question?"

Avatar is a reference to this. Go Blue!

November 21st, 2011 at 10:30 PM | Boston (and much of the east (Score:1)
CRISPed in the DIAG
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Boston (and much of the east coast) thinks college football is a quaint midwest or deep south pastime - like cowtipping and sipping lemonade next to the ol' swimming hole.  As a result, the NFL, MLB and even the NBA seem to get more attention on the east coast than NCAA tackle football.

As for the OP - 1) Ohio; 2) ND; 3) L'il Brah.

November 22nd, 2011 at 4:07 AM | Nah, I don't think we (Score:1)
BrownJuggernaut
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Nah, I don't think we appreciate it out here. Especially in Boston, with our puritanical values. BC has the worst...well.. they don't even have tailgating. I really don't know how anyone can get into it. College football really is an afterthought here. Even regular football only emerged here as the Patriots got good. Boston's always been a baseball first town. Then, we got everything else. Hockey is the biggest college sport. Every school has a team and we have great competition (the Beanpot). It really sucks that someone would be that uneducated and would provide an opinion like that though. It reflects poorly on the natives who went to Michigan and know our rivaries.

Avatar is a reference to this. Go Blue!

November 21st, 2011 at 7:28 PM | OSU (Score:2)
turd ferguson
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not a hard call.

November 21st, 2011 at 7:28 PM | Definitely that school in (Score:1)
HAILtoBO
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Definitely that school in ohio is our biggest. Who's the asshat that said sparty is?

 

"When your team is winning, be ready to be tough, because winning can make you soft. On the other hand, when your team is losing, stick by them. Keep believing."

November 21st, 2011 at 7:29 PM | This **** thread is (Score:3 Normal)
UMLaw73
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This **** thread is continuing the misinformation.  Are you some sort of mole, planted by Michigan State alumni Wolverine Incognito.  Or should we say "SPARTICUS Incognito"?  Ohio is our biggest rival in every sport.  Anyone who says otherwise is either brain dead or an Illini fan (which I guess is one in the same).

NO Music, Concerts, Ads, "Playing Dress-Up", Night Games, 3:30 Games, Neutral Site Games, And No MASCOTS

November 22nd, 2011 at 11:29 AM | ohio is not our biggest rival in every sport (Score:1)
The Nicker
Joined: 08/30/2008
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Why do you think this?

November 21st, 2011 at 7:29 PM | Ohio. Sparty would lead you (Score:3 Normal)
U2GoBlue
Joined: 07/27/2011
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Ohio. Sparty would lead you to believe they are, but they'd also lead you to believe they have tradition...outside of 1966, they don't.

November 21st, 2011 at 7:29 PM | I grew up.. (Score:1)
Indy Wolverine
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I grew up in Indiana and everyone there considers it to be Ohio State, as do all Michigan fans I know.

November 21st, 2011 at 7:29 PM | MSU sits at #3 (Score:5 Normal)
zohizzle101
Joined: 11/02/2009
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Behind Notre Dame

November 21st, 2011 at 7:30 PM | This is HATE WEEK Fergodsakes. (Score:5 Normal)
GunnersApe
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There are no fucking documentaries/books/movies on the M/MSU game there are just a long list of fired MSU coaches. Tell the Boston friend to just worry about the Yankees and leave big boy rivalries to real fans

Fuck it, Dude, let's go bowling.

November 21st, 2011 at 7:33 PM | In my mind (Score:2 Normal)
Charlie Chunk
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1) Ohio

2) MSU

3) ND

4) Everyone else

By the way, I think if you ask the same question anywhere in the B1G, Michigan will get mentioned more often than you think.

I work with a guy from Illinois and he thinks Michigan is their rival.  Go figure and then...

Go Blue!

 

Don’t look back. Something might be gaining on you.  -Satchel Paige

November 21st, 2011 at 7:43 PM | I would sayd OSU, then ND, (Score:3 Normal)
WolvinLA2
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I would say OSU, then ND, then MSU, then everyone else.  But I don't live in Michigan and MSU grads can't afford to live where I live so I don't have to hear it from them like many others do. 

My brother, OTOH, lives in the mitten still and hates Sparty more than I do, mostly due to proximity to them.

November 21st, 2011 at 7:48 PM | HAHA (Score:3 Normal)
Hardware Sushi
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HAHA

"MSU grads can't afford to live where I live so I don't have to hear it from them like many others do."

Nothing like a totally unnecessary super condescending comment directed at Sparty. If only there were a few around to catch their reactions. Excellent work.

Intensity is a lot of guys that run fast.

November 21st, 2011 at 7:54 PM | Nothing gets under Sparty's (Score:5 Normal)
WolvinLA2
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Nothing gets under Sparty's skin like some good ol' fashioned Michigan Arrogance.  They always have the infallible comeback though - "We have funner parties."

November 21st, 2011 at 8:36 PM | I agree with everything you (Score:2)
turd ferguson
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I agree with everything you said.

Something tells me that 5-10 years from now, most of us will feel that the #3 spot belongs to Nebraska.  (Hell, in 20 years, I could see most of us thinking that the #2 spot belongs to Nebraska.)

November 21st, 2011 at 7:35 PM | Ohio State and it's not even (Score:2 Normal)
bacon1431
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Ohio State and it's not even close. If 40 years from now, UM-MSU have had epic battles while both being highly ranked, then I'll consider it.

For a' that, an' a' that, 
Our toils obscure an' a' that, 
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