Warde Manuel and Mark Hollis plead for "civility and respect" by fans.
The two Universities involved in the upcoming game seem concerned enough about unruly fan behavior that the two Athletic Directors (and also the 2 University Presidents) released joint letters expressing those concerns.
Presented without comment:
To the fans, families, and friends of our two great universities in our great state,
On Saturday, October 7, our two programs will meet for the 110th time in our storied rivalry, and for the first time the game will kick off at night.
While both Michigan and Michigan State hope to come away with a win, the best aspect of this series is how it brings the entire state together. Families, classrooms, and offices throughout the state of Michigan will be "divided," hoping for their schools to bring home the Paul Bunyan Trophy and yes, bragging rights for the next year.
With the kick-off in primetime, both schools will share the national spotlight. After the game, each facet will be dissected and analyzed by many. Let's make sure the analysis is all about the game.
Our two universities can show that civility and respect can be a hallmark of not only college sports but what we need to strive for in our society.
Our institutions have high expectations of student-athletes, coaches and staff and how they serve our communities. We share a steadfast commitment to represent our schools with class and dignity as participants, students and members of our respective communities.
This weekend will be a time of togetherness, celebration, and competition.
On behalf of both institutions, we invite you all to represent yourself and your favorite side in a manner befitting our proud communities.
Sincerely,
Warde Manuel & Mark Hollis
October 5th, 2017 at 1:27 PM ^
The couches are lit!
MSU calls for aid!
October 5th, 2017 at 1:37 PM ^
October 5th, 2017 at 1:46 PM ^
October 5th, 2017 at 1:28 PM ^
Though I can't control what they do to their own property after the game...
October 5th, 2017 at 1:28 PM ^
One way to help encourage civility and respect is to not schedule the game for 7:30 p.m. so unrulier elements don't have all day and early evening to get shit-faced.
October 5th, 2017 at 2:00 PM ^
shut up
October 5th, 2017 at 2:09 PM ^
October 5th, 2017 at 2:21 PM ^
I see the pearl clutching continues...
October 5th, 2017 at 3:05 PM ^
Not really. I don't care if drunks beat the shit out of each other. But a pre-emptive scolding seems pretty pointless under the circumstances (and nobody will pay attention to it anyway).
October 5th, 2017 at 1:28 PM ^
I've been nervous about this ever since they announced the possibility of a night game. Walking through the dark woods behind Pioneer heading back to cars at night....Many fans will be upset one way or another and it should be on everyone's radar. Doesn't feel like a good idea, hopefully the knuckleheads aren't out later on.
October 5th, 2017 at 1:37 PM ^
If the SEC of all places can have night games between rivals, then so can we.
Welcome to the 21st century.
October 5th, 2017 at 1:39 PM ^
Real respectful. You really don't think there are going to be some bad situations Saturday night? Warde and Hollis put this canned note out because they want to say they took extra measures to ensure safety.
October 5th, 2017 at 1:48 PM ^
Nothing significantly more than when ND came to town.
Night games will be the norm soon enough. Trepidation with this stuff is just dumb when the rest of the nation does it all the time.
It's like they think MSU-UM is somehow more of a savage rivalry than the Iron Bowl etc.
Nonsense.
October 5th, 2017 at 2:04 PM ^
October 5th, 2017 at 4:15 PM ^
How did I end up in the mlive comment section?
October 5th, 2017 at 6:20 PM ^
I mean, MGoBlog in 2017 is basically the mlive comments section and the MDen catalog merging to form one imperfect union.
October 5th, 2017 at 2:36 PM ^
I think they put this out because it is the first night game against MSU at the Michigan Stadium. The likelihood of widespread rioting by either fanbase is pretty low and while we joke about them being juggalos and whatnot, I truly do not believe there will be any violence. My experiences in Spartan Stadium and with MSU fans at Michigan games has not been much different from other fanbases.
October 5th, 2017 at 11:39 PM ^
I generally agree with your statement, that they are not much different from other fanbases. But I would add a huge caveat. They are much better than the OSU fanbase. Buckeye fans are a bunch of dicks. They are terrible human beings across the board. Spartan fans are basically like all other fans that are not buckeye fans.
October 5th, 2017 at 1:43 PM ^
She asked me to relay the message that you could take your very tiny p*enis and stick it in a very tiny mousehole. Cheerfully, the messenger.
October 5th, 2017 at 1:45 PM ^
You're right I should've called him a bitch ass instead and get 50 upvotes for it.
October 5th, 2017 at 2:02 PM ^
"Sand out of your vagina" is really the hill you want to die on defending?
October 5th, 2017 at 2:22 PM ^
I really don't think that would get 50 upvotes. Or any, really.
October 5th, 2017 at 2:46 PM ^
Seriously, what a bitch-ass comeback that would be.
October 5th, 2017 at 1:52 PM ^
Get the misogyny out of your posts
October 5th, 2017 at 2:00 PM ^
October 5th, 2017 at 2:54 PM ^
when that happens...
October 5th, 2017 at 2:52 PM ^
even mean?
October 5th, 2017 at 2:57 PM ^
So you're arguing that basic issues like logistics, safety, and traffic flow that are unique to Michigan Stadium simply don't matter, because OMG THE SEC AFTER DARK!?
Come on, man.
October 5th, 2017 at 3:09 PM ^
If it was a 3:30 game it would still be dark in those woods behind Pioneer by the time the game ended.
October 5th, 2017 at 3:42 PM ^
Although the later the night goes, the more the crazies come out.....Here's hoping we have a nice dominant win to send a bunch of them home really early.
October 5th, 2017 at 1:30 PM ^
October 5th, 2017 at 1:39 PM ^
October 5th, 2017 at 1:43 PM ^
I'm sure this pet peeve is uniquely mine. My apologies for bringing it here. Oh, well, hopefully our defence has a clean slate.
October 5th, 2017 at 4:12 PM ^
I enjoyed it nonetheless. I'll buy you a drink at the pub and then we can enjoy a biscuit.
October 5th, 2017 at 4:50 PM ^
Clean sheet, my friend. Clean sheet.
(Props, though, for "defence"!)
October 5th, 2017 at 1:40 PM ^
October 5th, 2017 at 2:08 PM ^
19.30 derby*.
Otherwise, spot-on.
*Tough call on "fixture" v. "derby", but since the schools are in the same state the center-ref opted for "derby". The call on the pitch is non-reviewable.
October 5th, 2017 at 6:06 PM ^
October 5th, 2017 at 1:30 PM ^
So it begins....
October 5th, 2017 at 1:42 PM ^
October 5th, 2017 at 1:31 PM ^
what are two words not in the Sparty vocabulary Alex?
October 5th, 2017 at 1:36 PM ^
They might understand respect if you spelled it respekt
October 5th, 2017 at 1:54 PM ^
you have to put a dis-
in front of that respekt
October 5th, 2017 at 1:55 PM ^
For them to understand, you might have to tell them it is the opposite of disrespekt.
October 5th, 2017 at 1:32 PM ^
Night game! Get over it ! Auburn / bama more intense and works out fine . So
Many complaining about the late kick ! Gives the people who can't attend the noon kick because of work a chance to go to
A game
October 5th, 2017 at 1:33 PM ^