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.
November 21st, 2011 at 8:05 PM ^
November 21st, 2011 at 8:25 PM ^
and state in everything else (see hockey if you dont believe me)
November 21st, 2011 at 8:32 PM ^
You can't beat either, so whats the difference.
November 21st, 2011 at 8:35 PM ^
Have you beaten any of your rivals in the past few years? At least you finally beat Navy again this year.
November 21st, 2011 at 10:46 PM ^
November 22nd, 2011 at 12:49 AM ^
Oh I didn't think ND was in the discussion, frankly I can't see us beating you next year either. So just to focus in on your real rivals, I would say less OSU and more MSU since you have fallen into 3rd place in that race now.
November 21st, 2011 at 8:49 PM ^
When I was a kid I felt like Sparty was the biggest rival simply because I knew Sparty fans but no Ohio fans.
... Then I grew up.
November 21st, 2011 at 8:52 PM ^
Back in the 90's, when times were much better for us in "the rivalry", I know that my lifelong best friend and I - both raised in Ohio, but long time M supporters and alums - used to tweak our friends / families / alums who were OSU fans or alums by saying this. That is, back when M was routinely winning, we used to *LOVE* to say, "You guys aren't even our biggest rival! It's (insert ND or MSU)!".... Not that either of us really believed that, or thought that. But when we'd say it, it would invariably drive said OSU fan into a blind rage, about which we would cackle in delight.
I'm sure we weren't the only M people doing this to OSU folks. So, maybe it was a little of that too. Plus the Moeller thing in '94.
Go Blue - beat the Ogre Tech Buckeyes!
November 21st, 2011 at 9:15 PM ^
Any team that is not Michigan is my biggest rival. We should beat everyone, which is why we are the "winningest" team if all time.
November 21st, 2011 at 9:39 PM ^
That is all fine and good. Ohio is still more important.
November 21st, 2011 at 9:19 PM ^
These threads make us sound insecure. "Hey Sparty, here's a 300-word post that tells you how much we don't care!"
November 21st, 2011 at 9:25 PM ^
We went to war with Ohio.
End of discussion.
November 21st, 2011 at 9:26 PM ^
Ohio State is our biggest rival, first, last, and always.
November 21st, 2011 at 9:37 PM ^
it is, has been, and forever will be ohio.
November 21st, 2011 at 9:58 PM ^
Done. Post over.
November 21st, 2011 at 9:59 PM ^
Sparty NEEDS us, though they'll never admit it. They're relevance in college football simply is not where they believe it to be. As such, we are their biggest rival and it burns their asses that we don't consider them to be ours. It's like a kid who says, "Johnny, you're my best friend." Only to have their newly appointed best friend say, "Thanks Jimmy, but Timmy is MY best friend." you can see where their inferiority complex comes from. They try to convince everyone they know that we hate them the most. But, alas, we couldn't possibly hate anyone more than ohio.
November 21st, 2011 at 10:39 PM ^
Pretty sure since we are Spartys biggest rival they want us to feel the same about them...
Think of them as the crazy virgin you just deflowered and dont plan on calling again but they keep coming back trying to bother you wanting you to love them back. Yeah, thats Sparty.
November 21st, 2011 at 10:43 PM ^
Couldn't have said it better myself
November 21st, 2011 at 10:33 PM ^
As others have pointed out, to the Spartans, Michigan is their greatest rival. The feeling is not reciprocated. I live in Oklahoma now, and OU and OSU have a similar relationship. To OSU, the game with OU is the biggest game of the year every year. To OU the game with Texas (and years ago Nebraska) are the big rivalry games. MSU ranks as a distant second in rivalries, and many years doesn't even rank that high. It's just the way it is. Now if tOSU declines for the next 10 to 20 years in football and MSU continues winning 8 or more games a year, maybe, just maybe, we will start thinking of MSU as our greatest rival.
November 21st, 2011 at 10:57 PM ^
This goes back to my first days of M-fanhood in the early 70's. Whenever I hear tSIO's fight song I only know the fake lyrics, "Liquidate Ohio State and humble Woody Hayes..." It was drilled into me as a youngster and will always be there. I'm not sure I'd even recognize Sparty's fight song. 'Nuff said.
November 21st, 2011 at 11:00 PM ^
There's no other explanation.
Ohio is the only game of the season. Had RichRod went 1-11 each of the past three years, but beaten OSU he'd probably still be around.
November 21st, 2011 at 11:25 PM ^
No question O is #1 rival.
ND is # 2 in my mind, although I could understand if you happen to live or work with MSU fans that could get really annoying and make them feel more like #2, but the history of the series and the national importance can't compare to the classic match-up and rivalry of M/ND. ND is much more like Michigan as a school and a program than MSU. I know and like many ND alumns, I find their dilusions of granduer more quaint and amusing than annoying. MSU alumns are just plain annoying, but for that reason I don't respect them much. Too be a truely great rivalry there has to be an element of respect.
The really intersting question is will Nebraska replace MSU as our #3 rival. They should, and won't that just feed Sparty's inferiority complex beautifully!
November 21st, 2011 at 11:44 PM ^
ND, Mich St in football. Mich St, Ohio St in basketball.
November 22nd, 2011 at 12:16 AM ^
Depends on the sport. OSU is the biggest football rival, which is (obviously) the most important sport. Hockey and basketball both feature Sparty as the much bigger rival historically, but those sports are less culturally important. UM/OSU is widely considered one of, if not the biggest rivalries in all of North American sports, so yeah, I'm pretty sure it's the biggest one for us.
November 22nd, 2011 at 12:37 AM ^
Two words; The Game.
November 22nd, 2011 at 6:51 AM ^
Beat me to it. Yours is the only point that needs to be made.
November 22nd, 2011 at 12:48 AM ^
Football Ohio, ND, Sparty
Basketball Sparty, Ohio, we donl play ND enough in basketball
November 22nd, 2011 at 7:06 AM ^
End of story.
November 22nd, 2011 at 8:40 AM ^
I don't get how many people are listing MSU #2 in the rivalry dept. Sure, if you're in-state, it might mean a lot to talk trash to your buddy from Deerfield.
But the ND game is a national rivalry. Even my non-UM/ND friends tune into that one from wherever they are.
It's #1 Ohio, #2 ND then a huuuuuuuuuge gap, then #3 MSU.
November 23rd, 2011 at 3:59 AM ^
It's MSU, altho I would like it to be ND but winning ND does not give us advantages as winning rrrewwewwwwm
November 23rd, 2011 at 6:53 AM ^
with you. The #3 is Minny and the Lil Brown Jug. The trophy is the oldest in sports and the history is well documented. I care more about this (as posted elsewhere in this thread as well).
Moo U will always be, well, just another school in Michigan. Does tsio think Kent State, Akron or even the Ohio bobcats (my fav) as their rival? Hell no,,,its Michigan.
I think its funny that Moo U wants to elevate themselves to rivalry status.
November 22nd, 2011 at 6:50 PM ^
Ohio State. Period. I was watching the big ten network tonight and the biggest rivalry in the big ten is Michigan- Ohio State...NOT Michigan State.
November 23rd, 2011 at 12:07 AM ^
No body cares about msu.
November 23rd, 2011 at 12:06 AM ^
Michigan > Ohio> MSU>ND> Mebraska
November 23rd, 2011 at 12:14 AM ^
is not a rival at all. We do not compete for the same recruits or the same students. We are different in every way.
I would not care if Moo U left the B1G. I consider them like any other school in Michigan, ie EMU, WMU and CMU.
November 23rd, 2011 at 12:18 AM ^
...so maybe I have a different perspective than you folks from Michigan.
But...Sparty??? Honestly, I'm not sure they even make #3. I care about the Jug more than I care about MSU. Not that it's been much of a contest in my lifetime but I hate losing the thing.
November 23rd, 2011 at 7:20 AM ^
November 29th, 2011 at 9:57 AM ^
Biggest Rivals:
1) OSU -- 2) ND -- 3) MSU
Desmond Howard in his book as well as on College Gameday along with many other Michigan players have said Ohio State is their biggest rival, followed by Notre Dame and then Michigan State. Just because Michigan is MSU's biggest rival doesn't mean they're ours. People from Ohio and Boston as well as anywhere else in the world, get your facts straight about Michigan football. If you don't live in Ann Arbor or don't follow Michigan football very closely, I'm sure you don't think you know who our biggest rivals are.