ND v MSU - Who To Root For?

In a meteor game, I always look at it this way; where would I go to school if I had to do it over again and couldn't go to UM? That's ND by a country mile. Unless I'm into turf management, then I'd have to give some serious thought on my field of interest.

Root against MSU. ND already lost, the hype train has gone off the tracks, and Kelly has his many detractors. They're in limbo of what to do about Kelly, and I want him to win to ensure he stays and ND stays mediocre.

More importantly, I want Sparty to continue their descent into terribleness. They've had too much success recently and 3-9 was delicious last year. I want that to continue. They're 2-0 and have some portions of the fan base who are getting excited and delusional about the team this year. I want that excitement crushed. I want to see Dantonio gone at years end and see MSU hire a mediocre coach who will keep them mediocre.

If ND was 3-0 and MSU 1-1 I'd say root for MSU so both teams have a loss, but since it's reverse, I'm rooting hard for ND.

Normally, 1) Always root against ND because of all time wins record and 2) Always root for teams on the schedule against teams not on the schedule for SoS reasons. Howeva, I would love nothing more to see the Sparty's year of infinite sadness continue after the 8+ years of gloating during the RR, Hoke, and Blake O'Neil years.

I'll never support the right hand of Satan. Go ND!

The bigger question is, which head coach leaves first?

Looking at MSU's schedule, they have an opportunity to miss out on a bowl game again this year if they lose the toss up games. This may be one of those toss up games. I think we should want MSU to have a losing record again. Besides, they are the bigger rival as we play them every year. Fuck our rivals.

Easy for me. I always root for MSU to beat Norte Dame. Tradition since I was a little kid.

1 - We recruit more against ND than MSU

2 - All time wins and win%

MSU and if you think it's a hard decision, you are not a rational person.

A) An ND win, weakens MSU, which then weakens Michigan's SOS.

Now, I'm sure some people will chime in with the "If Michigan wins every game, they will be in the playoff" line. Since posting back to back undefeated records in 1947-48, Michigan has been undefeated just three times in 68 years. That includes two years where they finished with one or more ties. They have finished with one loss just six times in that span. It's far more likely that Michigan finishes with two or more losses. Can a two loss team get into the playoff? PSU came close last year (and in hindsight should have gotten in). It will happen at some point. 

B) Recruiting wise, Michigan will always out recruit MSU. 

Michigan did pre-Dantonio, they did during the RR era, they did during the Hoke era, and they are doing it now during the Harbaugh era. Michigan goes head to head with ND for way more recruits than it goes head to head with MSU. ND's 2018 class is currently ranked #8, Michigan's is ranked #16 with a similar average to ND, and MSU's is ranked #35. An ND win shows recruits that ND is back on track with Kelly. An MSU win shows recruits that MSU is...still second fiddle to Michigan. 

I moved away from Michigan when I graduated 20+ years ago. Back then I would have rooted for MSU against ND because ND was a real rival, and MSU was so bad that I was mostly indifferent.

But having moved back in-state 15 years ago, I am so sick of listening to the Spartan dimwits over the past several years, I want ND to beat them by 50.  

Before you comment, I know and acknowledge that it's probably irrational, but so is sports fandom, generally speaking.

ND thinks they're good no matter their record. MSU will quietly know their place (regardless of how they view UM) after a loss.  It's more satisfying to see those jort-wearing, musachioed hospitality majors slink back to their failed meth labs after each loss.

I'm going with Freakbass: We Are ND

I look at it as a win win either way

Rejoice in the loser!!!

Ignore the winner.

I'm rooting for Notre Dame. I hate MSU more than Notre Dame.

Also, shocker - someone used the cliché "meteor" comment.

Logically it'd be better for msu to win for our SOS and the hype for that game, but I want ND to win. While my msu friends are usually cool I would still like to see msu lose to shut them up a bit. They seen a little too hyped about their team this year.

Once upon a time I thought Kelly+ND would be a nightmare for us.  But now, it looks like him staying right there is fine.  So a ND win isn't particularly troublesome.

But then again, my hate scale differs a bit from others:  OSU>ND>MSU

I don't take Groucho Mark all that seriously ... his moment of glory was almost entirely due to the aberration in our program's history.  So the Moosters are back in their proper spot (3rd place) when I am stabbing out at others from hell's heart.

So ... go MSU? (I feel dirty)

 

I'm enjoying the College Football Imperialism Map, and want to keep MSU territory in conference, so that we can control it later in the season.

THe Hierarchy of Evil goes thusly:

1) Ohio State

2) Notre Dame

3) Michigan State

Penn State is right behind State, as is pretty much any SEC team. 

So, being that the outcome of the game really has no bearing on Michigan's season this year,  the Hierarchy of Evil dictates that you root for State as they are the lesser of two evils in this scenario.  

1. OSU 2. MSU 3. PSU 4. ND 5. Any other cheating, no good, low academic, institution . So, I am rooting most for MSU to lose.

i f***ing hate sparty, it's irrational, but I just can't ever cheer them on.

 

Historically, I would've opted to root harder against Notre Dame, but lately, anything that further tarnishes Dantonio's legacy, I'm all for.

Nothing would please me more than for Mark's post-career epilogue to come with a bevy of qualifiers to go along with his list of achievements.  Perhaps something like this...

"Dantonio was easily the best coach at MSU since Duffy Daugherty, bringing the Spartans 3 Big 10 Championships, a Rose Bowl title, an appearance in the CFP, and a winning record against hated rival Michigan.  Despite all these achievements, Dantonio was never able to take this success and build upon it to create a stable, top tier Big 10 program.  With the arrival of Jim Harbaugh at Michigan and Jim Franklin at Penn State leading to a resurgence in those respective programs, Dantonio's later teams struggled to reach .500 season-to-season and consistently found themselves unable to compete in the now stronger conference environment."

So, yeah, Fuck MSU this Saturday.

Notre Dame is the more prestigious and accomplished program and it is always a satisfying, joyous occasion to watch them lose.  Sparty is detestable as well, but since I started following college football 25 years ago, they've been OK, sometimes very good, but they often border on being irrelevant.  ND has been erratic in that time period too but was really dangerous back in the day.  Plus, ND has ruined many of Michigan's seasons over the years.  And most importantly, they dropped the series with Michigan but chose to keep State on the schedule.  And for that they need to suffer.

I'll be hoping for a ND win. I've never "hated" them. I actually would consider them one of those teams I root for most of the time

ND

Any reason to make Douchtonio unhappy makes me very happy. To hell with him and his program.

This game is meaningless to me.

Insignificant bowl.

Love the avatar.

 

First of all Rat, you never let on how much you like a girl. "Oh, Debbie. Hi." Two, you always call the shots. "Kiss me. You won't regret it." Now three, act like wherever you are, that's the place to be. "Isn't this great?" Four, when ordering food, you find out what she wants, then order for the both of you. It's a classy move. "Now, the lady will have the linguini and white clam sauce, and a Coke with no ice." And five, now this is the most important, Rat. When it comes down to making out, whenever possible, put on side one of Led Zeppelin IV.

I know this must be from a movie but Jesus Christ I can't recall everthing. Could you please be more obscure?

Never root for either ND or MSU.

Question should be, who do I want to lose more? Or, what loss benefits Michigan more?

Imhe, I'd rather ND lose, because I truly believe Michigan is going to kill MSU anyway.

3 - 9 = - 6 x 2 seasons = -12

It's going to a sludgefart of a game, most likely.  ND can't throw the ball, MSU can't defend the air.  So it's just going to be guys slamming in each other for 4 quarters.  As always, I root for the asteroid.

My ex wife and the majority of her family hate on UM irrationally (with the exception of her Dad who is solid UM). Worked in EL for 6 yrs during RR/Hoke era.  My a-hole of a brother (still love him) hates UM and has passed down the hatred to my 2 nephews.  I've eaten enough shit sandwiches from al them and more to last a lifetime

Fuck msu. 

you never root for Sparty, NEVER. Under no circumstances is a sparty win good. Never. 

I hope they both look incompetent and that the winner wins in a way that seems almost worse than winning.

They are already running their mouth and they have played nobody. I hope ND bends them over. Hopefully Kelly can win enough games to stay at ND.

My hatred for ND is too ingrained for too long. MSU's limited era of success is of no consequence - they are always a second tier rival after OSU and ND.

and fuck sparty, hoping for sparty to get shut out. Shut. Out. I really hate that program, worse than ND.

Sparty schadenfreude is the best.  I hope the Matthew Dantonio loses.  

RULES:

• Flag - drink
• Turnover - drink
• Dropped pass - drink
• Mention of previous year's record - drink
• Mention of program's former glory - drink
• Mention of players suspended from team - drink
• Image on screen of coach with scowl or red face - drink

This should make the game tolerable.