UM-MSU, a comparison of (weddings and funerals) what motivates players

Submitted by michfan4borw on

Some here may already know that MSU players get tattoos and claim (this past summer) that 2011 is setting up "for another ass whoopin" on Michigan (according to Jerel Worthy in response to Morgan Trent). 

Some may also know that this summer MSU captain & QB Kirk Cousins had his brother collect magazine articles that didn't use the word "repeat" in picking the Spartans to win the Big Ten, because that ommission "logically" shows a lack of respect for the Spartans.  He also took offense to people attending weddings in MI and introducing themselves to him as fans of the University of MIchigan.  He afterwards told the media this:

“So being at those weddings was about all the motivation I needed to get back to work, and prove to all those people why they shouldn’t be a Michigan fan.” 

Is he grasping for things about Michigan to hate on?  I'm not sure, but the detnews added this quote today (http://www.detnews.com/article/20111013/SPORTS0202/110130344/1132/sports0202/It’s-all-or-nothing-now-for-Michigan-State-seniors ) by Cousins:

"It's very personal when you have friends that tell you they're going to root for you every game but one," said quarterback Kirk Cousins, a Holland native. "It's kind of like saying, 'I like you but I don't like your wife and kids.' You might as well say you don't like me. So it's a similar deal and it's very personal."

 

In contrast, mlive.com published an article (http://www.annarbor.com/sports/um-football/mark-huyge-michigan-lineman-michigan-state-deceased-friend/ ) about how a recent death of a friend, Mike Kirby, motivates RT Mark Huyge. 

 

Michigan State week holds special significance for Huyge because he has never beaten the in-state rival that never recruited him. As a senior, this is his last shot. Huyge said he is feeling sentimental this week not only because of his disdain for the Spartans, but also because of Kirby. The final game he ever saw in person was last year’s Michigan-Michigan State game, when Huyge took him into the locker room at Michigan Stadium to introduce him to players who hadn’t met him at the marina. Kirby died Aug. 20 in an accident at the marina. As for Mark, he sent along a letter that his mother, Kim, delivered to the congregation {at the funeral]. It dedicated the Michigan football season -- which has begun in grand, undefeated fashion -- to Kirby, and closed like this: “Every year, Mike would say to me, ‘Mark, this year we have to do whatever it takes to beat Michigan State, even if it means that I have to go down on that field myself to get the job done,’” Cathy Kirby read over the phone, choking up with tears. “Well, Kirby, this is the year that we will get it done because I know you will be right there with me.” Mark Huyge is playing for Mike Kirby this season. Especially this week.

There are so many things that can motivate the players for the game this Saturday, but I just thought it was worth sharing this comparison of the motivation of MSU's leader and of one of our own. 

I think MSU is set up to take a fall.  My pick: UM 31, MSU 21.   

jtmc33

October 13th, 2011 at 10:48 AM ^

I get your general point... there is really nothing to dislike about Cousins.

However, anyone that complains about people telling him that they are Michigan fans, and he can dig deep and find disrespect out of that, is a chode.

I don't like him... he's too much of an "All American boy next door can't do no wrong" type.  And to bitch about people who don't treat him as just that is petty.

That statement proves he's a petty prick.

On Saturday, I hope he's a petty prick who throws four picks.

 

 

BlockM

October 13th, 2011 at 11:40 AM ^

I guess I can understand that a bit, I just don't see the need for massive posts concerning where he gets his motivation from. (And how does Huyge's motivation factor into this?) Seems like we're grasping at straws, which is strange when there are so many other things to hate about Sparty.

michfan4borw

October 13th, 2011 at 11:57 AM ^

I think I'm just observing what Cousins put out there as his motivation

and then drawing a comparison between that and Huyge's motivation.

I also thought juxtaposing weddings and funerals was somewhat appropriate given how different the teams, players and their motivations are.

 

I don't hate Cousins, but I do find his quotes annoying. 

There are many reasons to hate Sparty, but it mostly has to do with the sparty fans who seem more annoying than ever. 

 

 

victors2000

October 13th, 2011 at 12:22 PM ^

football - and how could you not? -I would say the same thing, 'best of luck in all but one'! How could he see that as some kind of insult? To me it's a tad peculiar, that he can't see the friendliness and respect (in most cases, I would assume) from such a stand and expect people who know him to be all or nothing with respect to him and the green and white. Apparently he doesn't like us, doesn't like people who root for us; I think it's best we don't meet. Good luck with things! Except for that one game...

Hardware Sushi

October 13th, 2011 at 11:22 AM ^

I'm sick of the Kirk Cousins is Mother Theresa/Albert Einstein/Winston Churchill meme that lazy sportswriters have been peddling.

He's thrown some pretty awful picks this year and MSU's offense has sucked against anyone with a pulse.

He's also the QB for MSU and thinks Dantonio is a good person.

I do not like Kirk Cousins.

Pasadena_Blue

October 13th, 2011 at 11:08 AM ^

I knew him a bit back in high school when I was a senior and he was a Freshman, and he is an overall good guy.  He just sometimes thinks he is a little more wise than he really is.

 

My prediction for Kirk for Saturday.....PAIN.

Bando Calrissian

October 13th, 2011 at 11:10 AM ^

Cousins (and the general attitude of most MSU folk when they think about Michigan people) borders on the sad desperation of "why won't these people just be friends with me?"

Sometimes you just have to come to terms with being the last kid on the brick wall when people pick teams, interrupted only by brief moments of success when the best kid on the blacktop decides to go play basketball for a few recesses in a row.

SamirCM

October 13th, 2011 at 11:19 AM ^

His attitude towards Michigan fans is that HE needs to "prove to all those people why they shouldn’t be a Michigan fan," that reminds me of a guy that enjoys wheat beers while you don't, and so each time you see him at the bar he insists that you drink wheat beers....nevermind that you hate them. The idea that reasonable people may disagree never seems to cross his mind.

Beavis

October 13th, 2011 at 11:49 AM ^

The Cousins thing is funny because I could have sworn I lost money betting on Wisconsin against TCU in the Rose Bowl.... 

NateVolk

October 13th, 2011 at 11:54 AM ^

There was a great article that I think originated from an Ohio message board or blog that Brian posted back in August. The guy did a good job of showing the serious flaws in Cousins' widely praised message at Big Ten media day.

If someone can find it, please post it.  It was defininitely telling about Cousins' mindset and point of view. I have a hard time believing that a guy who came across as that out of touch about the world many of his teammates come from, could be an effective leader of those same teammates.

I am sure he is a good guy from everything I read. At the same time, he's either partially blurred by west Michigan snobbiness, or somewhat phoney trying to gain favor, to say what he said that day.

 

Everyone Murders

October 13th, 2011 at 1:40 PM ^

<

> [at the end of Cousins's speech] Mark Dantonio can be seen mouthing the word “special” to new Minnesota coach Jerry Kill<

>  (The above is from the 11 Warriors article).   If Dantonio says that Cousins is "special" after he's read a prepared speech, is that reason enough to dislike Cousins?

Agreed that Cousins isn't as douchey as Stanton, but he has a bit of Eddie Haskell-ness to him that I find off-putting.  And Cousins seems to buy into the MSU inferiority complex syndrome, as many commentors note above.

goblue_56

October 14th, 2011 at 11:35 AM ^

For me, I feel privileged just to be able to listen to the words of Kirk Cousins on the internet. It is a privilege and an honor, just to be able to absorb his words and to be in the same state, with the opportunity to be breathing the same air as Kirk Cousins.