Should I Take My Kid to UM at MSU?

I often wonder how my mom and dad managed to parent and choose countertop material before MgoBlog was around.

I was a pretty abbrasive Michigan fan when going into enemy territory as a student and got into a few shouting matches with MSU fans going into the stadium.  I did not have anything thrown at me at MSU (as opposed to PSU/ OSU where I had full/ empty bottles thrown at me walking around the tailgates before the game).  Police presence in EL was pretty high as I recall.

As long as you don't spend a lot of time in the tailgate and follow your rules 1-4 listed above, you should be completely fine.

Additionally, MSU is hurting this year and I would imagine there will be more Mich fans than in recent games, so another positive for you.

Stay till the end and it'll only be UM fans left anyhow.

Take him. Even if there is a bad experience it will just fuel his hate for msu

I was at the garbage bowl game (or the Denard Helmet twist game). Sparty is all talk.

I have been to MSU several times and have worn UM stuff every time. I have never had any issues. I think you'll be fine taking your kid. At least I hope so since I'm taking my 16 yr old to the game!

Well, your couch at least will be safer at home.

It's a Michigan town full of Michiganders. There will be thousands of M fans there. Many families will have fans of both programs in attendance.The tailgating scene is a lot of fun. You probably don't want to sit too close to the student section. That would go for any B1G venue, though.

If you are worried maybe don't go but I think you will be fine. I have a violent temper so I won't let myself go.

good game experience in East Lansing. Unless you're in a Michigan block of seats it's uncomfortable to react to any favorable Michigan play. There has always been at least one ass, if not more, who wanted to take it up with us. I see a bad combination of conditions this year. Their fans are angry and despondent and Michigan is back. It's not worth it to me, plus I hate their stadium.

Haven't been to EL I years, it was fine when we were crushing them annually. But the last few games in AA they were absolutely strocious. I understand your concern.

65 or more comments and not one mention of when we can't take our 15 year-old kids to East Lansing until?

By then most of the crowd will be in Maize and Blue.

If you have to ask the question, might just be better to err on the side of caution and stay home  .

If you decide to stay home . Maybe have a Mich vs MSU party  . Both of you invite some friends over, order some pizzas .  Make it a guys day, maybe convert some Cinci natives into Michigan fans?

 

If you do decide to go  , before you get tickets just make sure you are going to be in a very Michigan friendly section .

Best of luck  and Go Blue !

Just go and enjoy the game, don't taunt anyone needlessly, and you'll be fine.  Yes, there will be some knuckleheads out there; you might get stuff thrown at you/yelled at.  But that's probably at worst, unless someone with liquid courage shows up.

If you are going to enjoy the game with your son, you should be fine.  If you are going and sort of expect to find trouble, then probably stay home.  It's as easy as that.

The worst I've had there was a drunk trying to talk trash to me on a bus but even other sparties on the bus were somewhat supportive of me over the drunk spartan.

I imagine that stadium won't even be close to being full. You will be fine.

Not like you guys are to cedar or tennis courts to tailgate. It will be a great experience, especially when Michigan wins...he will always remember it!

Despite the existence of angry internet trolls, MSU fans are not nasty in person in my experience. I'm planning to wear my Michigan gear and am not worried about it at all. Take the kid and enjoy.

I don't know if being a Dad with a 15yr old puts you in a different demographic than if you were a 20-something or M student, but we had Spartys slapping our car and smacking the windows trying to get out of EL after a MICHIGAN win when I was a student.  I have taken my - now 9yr old - to a bunch of football games, both in Ann Arbor and Denver Broncos games and the only concerning thing has been language (which I was aware would be and doesn't bother me, like it seems some at M games) but also the unpredictability of the other fans.  I'd say keep a low profile and be a good away fan and enjoy.  The stadium will be half-empty by the 4th quarter anyways and you'll likely just get your share of "Fuck Michigans!" in your direction.

 

My experience is completely different from freelion. I've been to two games there, both were the worst experiences I've had at a college football venue (which includes a visit to the shoe). Walking around campus before hand students were totally cool with never got flack from them. Game starts and both times there were multiple 35 to 55 stupid drunk falling over drink spilling trailer trash threatening to fight random people in maize and blue. The woman in these groups are the worst as they fear no repercussions from talking shit. I think this game will be slightly better and unless state keeps it close or is winning. I believe these folks aren't the diehards that go to every game they are the ones that come out of the woodwork when state has winning teams.

I have two kids and I want to take either of them yet to a Michigan State v Michigan game in East Lansing. They are five and nine, sheltered don't really know curse words, maybe when they're a little older

I sat with my 12 year old friend at 12, without parental supervision.

 

You'll be fine as long as you aren't a dick and you realize people will be dicks to you, just ignore them.   God willing they won't be in much of a mood to give you much crap after Harbaugh's men dismantle them for 60 minutes.

You and your kids should too. They're not that bad. Brothers and all.

Just no.  15 might be as problematic as 5, but for different reasons.  His judgment is still adolescent-impaired, and a meathead who would think twice about hassling a 5 yr old will believe a 15 yr old is fair game.

I've been to East Lansing multiple times wearing Michigan gear and never had a problem. Not to mention there's going to be a lot of maize and blue in the stadium that day. I say go, the more the merrier.

was way worse than whatever he's going to see at a football game.  Every other word I was dropping rhymed with duck and I was trying to hook up with whoever I was dating at the time.  Drunk people at a football game wouldn't have even caused me to bat an eye.

I've never been to a Michigan at Spartan Stadium but I think people may be overestimating the Michigan fan presence.  Ticket prices are still pretty high on Stubhub.  Sparty's season is pretty much over and this game is always their Superbowl.  I think Sparty fans are keeping their tix.  I'd be surprised if the crowd is more than 25% Michigan regardless of Sparty's record in 2.5 weeks. 

I've been to the last 3 Michigan @Northwestern games.  Those crowds were usually 30% Michigan at the beginning of the games.  I've heard alot of Michigan fans say it's a majority Michigan crowd which is an exageration.