The Violence of rivalry games - Doug Skene on the MSU rivalry
In discussion with Chris Balas, great insight from former UofM lineman Doug Skene on the level of violence in the rivalry game with MSU; his reflections on the '90, '91 & '92 games against MSU; MSU's penchant for "willfully trying to injure you and take you out"; how he and his teammantes responded to MSU; and lastly his prediction of UofM winning this weekend with smart, clean play.
October 27th, 2021 at 5:47 PM ^
Better link -
October 27th, 2021 at 6:01 PM ^
FUCK staee!!!!!!!!!!
October 27th, 2021 at 6:13 PM ^
"Silence, violence, take care of business and go back home."
David Ojabo
October 27th, 2021 at 7:06 PM ^
TCB for a week means Takin' care of beatin' Staee
October 27th, 2021 at 6:13 PM ^
Good stuff from Balas and Skene.
TL, DW summary:
- Play clean, but play violent when you play Sparty, and we will win a close contest
October 27th, 2021 at 6:16 PM ^
Those two still in the BPone? Holland and Sayfie talking recruiting is a much better listen.
October 27th, 2021 at 8:26 PM ^
Each of us has preferences. I prefer more balance and knowledge.
October 27th, 2021 at 6:19 PM ^
And that carried through to all of the Bullough brothers
October 27th, 2021 at 9:45 PM ^
And the Panasiuks are perfectly happy to carry that torch now.
October 27th, 2021 at 10:34 PM ^
Can’t forget William Gholston turning Denard’s helmet around on his head. Done in front of the Refs, too. Until the B1G hold Sparty accountable for their egregious behavior, you’ll see more of it. Fuck their dirty ass culture.
October 27th, 2021 at 6:22 PM ^
Nothing's changed. I watch some of their games. I won't knock the winning, but they've been dirty and angry for 15 years
October 27th, 2021 at 8:09 PM ^
The solution to the "dirty and angry" problem - the simplest solution - would be for them to quit bathing in the Red Cedar, at least until after the next regularly scheduled cleanup of the watershed through campus. That said, Spartan football has never been a fan of everyday solutions like that.
October 27th, 2021 at 10:27 PM ^
I think you meant 115 years.
October 27th, 2021 at 6:25 PM ^
Sparty's been doing it dirtier for the past 15 years. Time to bring the violence.
October 27th, 2021 at 10:24 PM ^
Try more like 50+ and counting.
mark Messner hooked up with ‘roid boy Tony Mandarich for one dirty game in the late 80’s. ‘Roid boy got his [redacted] kicked.
October 27th, 2021 at 8:54 PM ^
My memory might be a little hazy, but I remember when Doug Skene committed to Michigan. It seems like I remember reading about it in the paper and for some reason December 19th sticks out. I think it was because it was such an early commitment back in that day, with most guys committed in January and on Signing Day. I remember Dean Dingman and another offensive lineman committing on signing day. But that could just be my imagination
October 27th, 2021 at 9:24 PM ^
Not that I think they’ll need any additional motivation, but someone get Devin Bush out to EL on Saturday, and I imagine he can give this team one hell of a pep talk about beating MSU.
October 28th, 2021 at 1:16 AM ^
Ya know, they are in Cleveland Sunday. It is about as close as you can get without playing the Lions.
October 27th, 2021 at 9:36 PM ^
They are an inferior program and university in the same state with an inferiority complex. Not surprising it would be UM's dirtiest rival, as they have historically been at a talent deficiency and are very much a regional B1G program, whereas UM is a national brand, historically elite - and even in our shit years where we just weren't competitive (RR, Hoke), UM was still seen as CFB blue blood. Would be great to actually get back to being an elite program on the field to match the tradition.
There was always much more respect (especially when we were more competitive) in the UM-OSU rivalry, as the talent, recruiting and approach were similar - with many players left choosing between the 2 school when being recruited.
Sparty players were often overlooked by the B1G 2 in the conference, but their hatred and "disrespek" was mostly directed at their in-state big brother, and this approach hit full boil under Dantonini. It's worked for them and their hatred and violent play must be acknowledged as it has been the greatest and most effective fuel in their attempts to even the playing field.
October 27th, 2021 at 10:44 PM ^
Gonna take a generation to wash Mork away. Maybe with Mr. Hart's help we can hang little bro out to dry.
October 27th, 2021 at 9:45 PM ^
Sparty can kiss my ass.
October 28th, 2021 at 7:01 AM ^
Skene picked Washington over Michigan in a blowout.
October 28th, 2021 at 7:33 AM ^
Speaking of violence I sort of miss Morks punchable looking face on the sidelines. Weird.
October 28th, 2021 at 8:18 AM ^
I find Tucker's cigar smoking face just as smug and punchable. I imagine the interview process includes that "I'm on my third helping of shit sandwich." look.
October 28th, 2021 at 1:12 PM ^
Fair point, and now that I think of it I haven't really looked at his faced and face close enough to assess the smugness and punchability.
October 28th, 2021 at 9:39 AM ^
When I was a grad student at Northwestern in the late 1990s, I had a couple NW football players in one of my classes. I asked them for their takes on the Big Ten programs. They both said MSU was the dirtiest team in the league. They said when in a pile, MSU players would pinch you wherever they could reach, sometimes even going for your dangly bits.
So, at least back in the Saban years, MSU played dirty regardless of the opponent.
October 28th, 2021 at 10:19 AM ^
With all of the transfer portal players that they have, will Tucker have a hard time instilling hatred and dirty play in such a short time? Will they play as dirty? These transfer players were unlikely spurned by Michigan on the recruiting trail and not in state kids with a Dantonio sized chip on their shoulder.
October 28th, 2021 at 12:26 PM ^
I go way back to the Bo days. I lived in South Quad which was where the team lived back then.
One time I asked a guy on the team what was the biggest difference between the MSU and the OSU games.
He answered, "the whistle."
I asked, "what does that mean?"
He said that in each game you will be hit as hard as you are ever hit in your life. The difference is in the MSU game, the hardest hits are after the whistle.