Is anyone rooting for MSU to win the Rose Bowl?

Submitted by Erik_in_Dayton on

Is anyone rooting for MSU in the Rose Bowl?  I suppose you could make a case that we ought to.  The Big Ten's national perception is really bad, of course (thanks in part to ESPN's intentional submarining of the conference, IMO, but that's perhaps another post).  A victory by MSU might have a positive ripple effect for the rest of the conference next year, especially when it's time to select the four teams for the Kodiak Smokeless Tobacco College Football Playoff Presented by Lloyd's of London and Kia Motors.

I know that I simply can't bring myself to root for MSU, though I have to respect what they've done with their program.  I remember being a kid and seeing MSU go to the 1988 Rose Bowl and thinking that something just wasn't right about the situation, and I feel pretty much the same way now.  Sure, they've earned the right to be there, but just a surely, the football gods must be offended by this current state of affairs.  It is not right, in some fundamental way, like a household in which two dogs watch TV and use kitchen appliances while humans scamper around on the floor begging for scraps.

But anyway, is anyone rooting for MSU?  I don't blame you if you are.  As I said, it makes some sense.     

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Felix.M.Blue

December 31st, 2013 at 1:45 PM ^

I'm interested to see how they match-up with Stanford but even if I said I was rooting for Sparty, they would show their fans in the stands or the coach on the sideline and I would instantly start rooting against them.

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mGrowOld

December 31st, 2013 at 1:48 PM ^

Had we won the other night - yes. I would've rooted for them and all other brother B1G teams.

But given the embarrassment of getting pants'd on national TV I am now in full-blown hate mode and I want everybody else to lose and lose more embarrasingly than we did.  I hope MSU,  OSU and every other B1G team we played this year gets absolutely shelled.

Scortched earth.  Death to everything.

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justingoblue

December 31st, 2013 at 1:49 PM ^

I would definitely be glad that the Big Ten produced a winner on the biggest stage it will play in this year, but that doesn't mean I'll be sitting and watching wearing green or stressing about it. If they lose, oh well, if they win maybe we will hear a little bit less Big Ten trashing. I will definitely be rooting for them not to get run off the field, by that same logic.

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Mattavious

December 31st, 2013 at 1:59 PM ^

This is my biggest drawback to supporting them in the bowl game.  We've already taken some hits and we really can't afford too many more.  State winning the Rose Bowl can't do anything positive to our future recruiting battles.

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YaterSalad

December 31st, 2013 at 1:56 PM ^

Technically Stanford winning is an example of manball success as well ... I have a feeling Sparty winning won't be saving the face of the BIG considering us and Minn losing already coupled with Neb, Wisky, Ohio, and Iowa having difficult matchups. We, in all reality, will probably see a Big 10 shit show in bowls.

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michgoblue

December 31st, 2013 at 1:51 PM ^

I hope that they lose by 40, with their "#! in the country defense" being humiliated by Stanford's MANBALL offense, and their offense reverting to being a shit show. 

For those who are rooting for MSU, keep in mind that we recruit against them.  Malik McDowell is just on example of a kid who is choosing between us and them (amongst others).  Pre-2008, MSU was never a recruiting factor - we got who we wanted generally, and they got the leftovers.  But, in recent years, they are the dominant in-state team, and arguably one of the better midwestern teams, while we have become an afterthought.  MSU winning the Rose Bowl only adds to that perception.  It legitimizes them, even if only a bit, which could help with recruiting.  Given where our program is, I will root for anything that gives us even a slight edge, and bringing down their national perception, even if only incrimentally, works for me.

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justingoblue

December 31st, 2013 at 2:08 PM ^

Let's say there's great California player that's down to Michigan, Georgia and UCLA. Don't you think they're going to harp on just how bad the conference we play in is compared to theirs? Good conferences win on the biggest stages, and when they do their teams get the benefit of the doubt when it comes to selections and rankings and awards. Michigan couldn't do it this year, but at least it might show that we lost to good teams instead of cupcakes.

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BlueReign

December 31st, 2013 at 1:52 PM ^

I will be rooting for MSU.

 

In 2011 when we beat OSU and they went 6-7 I had some coworkers who were diehard OSU fans. I was pestered all year about how superior OSU was, and even after we beat them the chatter didnt stop. That's when i learned that our rivals will badger us every year forever, even if they go 0-12. I hope ever team we face is 11-1. The collective MSU fanbase isnt going to back down if they lose to stanford. The only good thing that can come out of this game for michigan is a B1G win. 

I guess i just grew up being taught to cheer for my team, not against others. 

Plus, when you root for sparty and they blow it you get the little joy of a Sparty Nooo!

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LSAClassOf2000

December 31st, 2013 at 1:54 PM ^

I will sort of echo the sentiment of the OP when I say that, personally, I cannot bring myself to actively root for MSU. Same deal with Stanford really. At the same time, it would be nice to see the Big Ten Conference pull out a win in a major bowl game though - if we're going to have our playoff fate in the future decided by a committee, such wins would possibly help the conference a little bit.

As for tomorrow, I plan to sit down and try to enjoy some football as a mere spectator, and this is similar to how I treat every game that I watch that does not involve Michigan (in which case, of course, I am indeed actively rooting for a team). This is easier to do when it is bowl season, of course, and the only game which has consequences in your mind is the one your team plays in.

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BlueinOK

December 31st, 2013 at 1:55 PM ^

I hope Stanford just destroys MSU. I don't care about the B1G looking down. The SEC will shut up when Florida State beats Auburn in the National Championship. Please FSU get the win!!!

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Cali Wolverine

December 31st, 2013 at 1:58 PM ^

And what better way to start 2014 than to see State lose to Stanford on national TV. 2013 has been bad enough, but to add insult to injury, I am seeing troves of State fans in their green gear walking all around town.

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MDot

December 31st, 2013 at 1:57 PM ^

So Im the only one who would rather the perception of our rivals be as strong as possible, so that when we beat them, the glory is that much sweeter?

 

The only legit reason to root against MSU is that could affect recruiting in the state, but since UM tends to out recruit MSU anyway...

 

Not to mention with ND not being on the schedule in the years to come, competing (winning, hopefully) against well-respected MSU/OSU teams only legitimizes the nation image/perception of Michigan. At least thats how I view it.

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Bubba

December 31st, 2013 at 2:10 PM ^

I agree, you are not alone. The success of Sparty does not bother me. Have you people all forgotten? This is Michigan, their status does not impact ours. If anything, it will serve as a reality check to both our coaches and our admin that WE need to get OUR stuff together ASAP. I want our conference to look good.... As a collective group we need Ohio and Sparty to both do well

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evenyoubrutus

December 31st, 2013 at 1:58 PM ^

It really freaks me out how close MSU was to playing for a national championship this year, and I honestly think they would compete well with FSU with how well they shut down EVERYBODY. 

Strangely I really could care less whether they win the Rose Bowl.

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snarling wolverine

December 31st, 2013 at 2:08 PM ^

The Big Ten's national perception is really bad, of course (thanks in part to ESPN's intentional submarining of the conference, IMO, but that's perhaps another post).
I would attribute the B1G's reputation thusly: 95% due to actually being a crappy conference that doesn't make a good showing on the national stage and 5% due to ESPN and various other outlets accurately pointing out the above.

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UMgradMSUdad

December 31st, 2013 at 2:18 PM ^

I will be pulling for the Spartans, but reluctantly.  If I didn't live out of state and my Spartan grad daughter weren't home for the holidays and sitting in the same room with me as we watch the Rose Bowl, I would likely have a different response.

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Cold War

December 31st, 2013 at 2:20 PM ^

Given the attitude of Sparty fans, I hope they lose by 50. That would be good for Michigan in terms of the B1G. National perception, I don't give a damn.

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