Your vote for the most gut-wrenching loss to Sparty
I know all too well we've lost the last three games to these guys but in my lifetime there were three nut-crunching losses to MSU that are stuck in my memory like the first fat chick you hooked up in the dorms when you were too drunk to notice but not drunk enough to forget what she looked like (more on that some other time).
1978 - MSU 24 - Michigan 15
The only conference loss for one of Bo's truly great teams. Senior QB Ricky Leach's only loss to MSU derailed Blue's march to a possible National Championship season as Kirk Gibson goes off (yes he played football too) and almost single-handedly defeats Michigan. The term "Arrogant Asses" is born.
1990 - MSU 28 - Michigan 27
#1 ranked Michigan makes a furious comeback and has a chance to steal the win (MSU outplayed us that day by a LOT) only to have the game end on the mother of all controversial "no calls" in college football history. Little known fact - the ref who ate his flag that day in the end zone was the high school coach the year before of the MSU defender who DIDN'T interfere with Desmond on the two point conversation attempt.
2001 - MSU 26 - Michigan 24
Spartan Bob....multiple drive extending defensive penalties against Michigan and.another insanely obvious no-call on the last play of the game leads MSU to two point victory that literally changed the rules of college football.
And besides the obvious answer "all of them" which one is yours?
October 14th, 2011 at 11:42 AM ^
Came in from Chicago. Watched the game high atop the South endzone. Whole stadium goes crazy-nuts after the touchdown. We all watched the two point conversion develop - watched Desmond come off the line - watched the trip by State and then waited for the call. It never came. The stadium went silent and the walk back to the car was creepy quiet.
October 14th, 2011 at 11:26 AM ^
I don't like this thread.
October 14th, 2011 at 11:29 AM ^
For me personally, there has never been a more painful loss, in any sport, than that 2001 Clock Game. Even though the game ended at only bout 7:30, and even though I wasn't tired, I just went to bed right then because I was so deflated and upset.
October 14th, 2011 at 1:26 PM ^
I don't think I slept that night.
October 14th, 2011 at 11:29 AM ^
I don't have one in particular. I feel as though any and every lose to Sparty, ND and the Sucknutts are equally gut wrenching.
October 14th, 2011 at 11:37 AM ^
For me it's 1990 and nothing else is close. Yes, I was at the 2001 SpartanBob game and that was painful. But in 1990 I was a student in the student section watching #1 UM play flat against Sparty. However, UM drove down the field for the apparent tying TD. Being #1 (and no OTs allowed), UM went for the win and threw a quick slant to Desmond. He would have scored easily for the win but was basically tripped/tackled on the most obvious of penalties EVAR! And yet no penalty flag came. All of us stood stunned, desperately waiting for the flag. I could not move for minutes.
Afterward, State fans poured into the streets acting like there was no tomorrow and I faced a long, stumbling walk back home. TERRIBLE. I have never seen a worse call (non-call) in such an important moment.
October 14th, 2011 at 11:36 AM ^
1990, it still pisses me off, and I still argue that play with my sparty-lovin' brother.
October 14th, 2011 at 11:40 AM ^
What exactly is the argument? Does your brother believe that the non-call was correct? If so, that is remarkable. Every State fan I know (at least the rational ones??) agrees that was a clear blown call.
I understand in 2001 Sparty can argue there was time left and the clock should have stopped.
October 14th, 2011 at 11:38 AM ^
Reading through the posts, it seems as if Sparty's recent run has gotten everyone's attention. Seeing this, I immeidately thought of this year's Dueling Columns:
The Daily piece sums up the impact outside of AA of these last three games. Additionally, it provides a substantative framework for Sparty's primary inferiority, which the State News goes out of it's way to confirm.
October 14th, 2011 at 11:46 AM ^
The second that Desmond was tripped and no flag was thrown little 10 year old me was in tears. It was a cruel lesson on how unfair life could be but it got worse for me as the next Monday at school I earned 2 days dentention for telling a teacher (and huge State fan) to go to hell after some good natured teasing about the outcome. Mom was none to pleased about that, but I'm pretty sure that my old man (lifelong Michigan fan) was very understanding, and damn near proud of me for putting that woman in her place.
October 14th, 2011 at 12:02 PM ^
I'd have to go with 1990. Spartan Bob was frustrating too but Michigan really deserved to lose that one. 1990 was a total blown call that took a win from a team that had fought hard.
October 14th, 2011 at 12:07 PM ^
For purely personal reasons. It was my sophomore year and had lots of high school friends from MSU visit for the game. Needless to say, I didn't get sober until Sunday night after they finally left.
October 14th, 2011 at 12:23 PM ^
the most recent loss is always the most gut wrenching loss for me.
it automatically invalidates your trash talking ticket.
October 14th, 2011 at 12:26 PM ^
The 1990 hack job was simply awful, but the 2001 game takes the cake for me, for many reasons.
I was in graduate school at Michigan and I went to visit my brother, who was an undergrad student at State, to go to that game. Before the game, we were tailgating (adults and students, all Sparties) and as I was walking around the tailgate area, a girl student Sparty ran up to me, tried to spit in my face (hitting my chest) and knocked the beer out of my hand, spilling it all over me.
Our tickets were in the student section (not a great idea, in hindsight). During the game, I saw a fellow Michigan fan sitting a few rows in front of me get an entire cup of soda dumped on his head. At one point in the second quarter, a drunk student ran over to me, yanked my Michigan cap off of my head and threw it away, never to be seen again. When I expressed my frustration to my brother about this event, I had the father of a girl student sitting in front of me tell me to stop complaining and ask me what I expected anyway - I don't know, how about not having my personal property ripped off of my head and thrown away?
Then, when the game turned into the disaster that it was, it was the coup de grace on a horrible football experience. Before the touchdown, I remember frantically looking back and forth from the field to the clock, expecting the clock to run out and then being completely dumbfounded when it paused for that extra beat of time on one second and then stopped. You know the rest. Afterward, the guy who stole my hat came up to me and apologized. I shoved him. It wasn't the first time I had been to a game in East Lansing, but it was the worst college football experience I have ever had and I haven't been back there for a game since.
October 14th, 2011 at 12:38 PM ^
I agree with your list.
1976, I was 13 and was crushed since it was a shock to get whipped by MSU. My first memories of Kirk Gibson when he caught that long TD pass. I just remember being frustrated at Rick Leach play while listening to Bob Ufer on the radio.
1990, the no call pass interference was a crushing loss since we were 1 or 2 in the country and we came back and should have won that game.
2001, Spartan Bob at the clock was a real rip off game. At least because of that game college referees keep the time on the field.
Last years game just gave me doubts about RR being our coach. I was not too happy having sparty come in and whip us at home!
We'll see how coach Hoke handles this game. This game may make or break our chances of winning the legends division. Hoke seems to be on the same path that Bo was on during his first season, so I optimistic that we will win a close game!
October 14th, 2011 at 1:07 PM ^
Hands down the Spartan Bob game. The no call, yet blatant hold in the last play, the ref breaking officiating rules by sprinting to spot the ball before the ball was spiked, and of course Spartan Bob playing God with the clock. I don't remember much about that game except the last drive, but that last drive helps fuels my Sparty hatred more than any other game in rivaly.
October 14th, 2011 at 1:26 PM ^
To remember many of the one's before 2001, so I'll have to say the last 3 have been really tough to swallow, especially as a student.
October 14th, 2011 at 1:30 PM ^
1995. They were a half yard short on a 4th down play that was called a first down on the game winning drive.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5mqMDAIF8eA
(I can embed...I just don't think it deserves it).
October 14th, 2011 at 2:49 PM ^
Wow, there are a lot of people that weren't alive... or old enough to remember the 1990 game. That one really got to me. I think Michigan probably wins the National Title that year had they gotten past Sparty. I thought Howard was going to catch the ball for sure and then when it hit the turf, I just waited and waited for the flag. I couldn't believe there wasn't a flag. The longer I sat in silence the madder I got. I was only 12, but I knew the rules pretty f-ing well and I knew that was the wrong (non) call. For pure piss-off-idness, the 2001 game was right up there. Thankfully, I was of legal drinking age so I probably got drunk that night. I was probably somewhat beligerant as well. I hope that is not the case tomorrow night when I have to go to a wedding. :0)
October 14th, 2011 at 3:23 PM ^
I was alive, yet quite young during the 1990 game. However, on a related note, when I played football in my middle school years during the mid 90's one of the assistant coaches on my team was none other than the infamous Eddie Brown. He at the very least referred to himself as the guy who purposely tackled Desmond Howard early. Even though he was quite proud of the fact he got away with it, it was better than him having any delusion that it was a clean play...
October 14th, 2011 at 5:05 PM ^
Eddie Brown has always been pretty straight up about it. Admitting he "probably" interferred" with him. And accurately saying he or anyone else would do it again rather than give up the points. I have no problem with him. Just the refs for swallowing their whistles.
October 14th, 2011 at 5:27 PM ^
Eddie Brown is the one forthcoming guy in that whole mess. He was better about it than the refs were. (Wasn't there something from the Conference office saying they were unhappy with that crew? I've forgotten now.) Anyay, I like Eddie Brown for that. I'd shake Eddie Brown's hand; as opposed to Spartan Bob's hand, since he just fouls it all off and continues to root for Sparty.
October 14th, 2011 at 3:10 PM ^
That's the one that immediately came to mind when I read the title of this thread, before seeing the options. I enrolled at U-M in 1994, so I have no memory of the 1978 or 1990 games ('90 sounds just awful from what I've read above). Watched the 2001 game with some other recent alums at a sportsbar in Scottsdale while on a business trip... One of those sporting events when the nature of the rip-off was so obvious it was just breath-taking.
I hope we kick their ass tomorrow.
October 14th, 2011 at 3:44 PM ^
1990 sucked because it wasn't right
2001 sucked because it just sucked, but seriously people need to let the whole they cheated thing go....time is relative and when you are doing things with a hot girl hours feel like seconds and when you are in a nerve wracking situation seconds feel like hours...they have went back and timed the whole spartan bob incident and there was like .4 seconds left. LET IT GO
October 14th, 2011 at 4:05 PM ^
I might put 1984 in there. Probably not as gut wrenching as 1990 and 2001. UM came into the game 3-1 and had already beaten defending champ and preseason #1 Miami, FL. Harbaugh gets hurt and is done for the year.
October 14th, 2011 at 4:20 PM ^
2008 was the great chance we had to pull some big win out of the hat against them but we collapsed in the 2nd half and Sparty ran away with it. Then in 2009 worst 1st half of Michigan football I've seen in a long time and just when things look down and out Tate marches us down the field and make one of the most amazing comebacks to take it to overtime and that's where our grave would be marked. I still wonder to this day if RR ever thought about going for two after the TD to make it a one point game.
October 14th, 2011 at 4:22 PM ^
that it will be tomorrow if we lose! I'll be saying bad things on every bad play as it is and probably have to turn off the tv a few times if we get behind.
October 14th, 2011 at 5:10 PM ^
2001. I was 7 and that game is the reason I hate MSU to this day.
October 14th, 2011 at 8:36 PM ^
Michigan was ranked #1 during the season for the first time in a looooong time.
The Spartans weren't that good and came into AA and shellacked us.
And that non-call on the 2-point conversion was the first time I ever cried at a football game.
QUIT LOOKING AT MEEEEEEEEEEEE!!!