An honest debate: Michigan and/or Michigan State?
I am a Michigan fan. But, I would like to pose a question to the MGoCommunity. Is it an acceptable practice to be a fan of both Michigan and Michigan State? As usual for this site, I would like an honest debate, or a real consensus. His argument is as follows.
I like both Michigan and Michigan State athletics. My reasons: First, I grew up in West Michigan, and the area does not have a strong allegiance to either school. Sure you will find the die hards to both schools, but West Michigan does not have a strong allegiance to one over the other. Further, my parents did not have a preference either. So, I being the avid sports fan that I am, found myself enjoying every game that both Michigan and Michigan State played. When I was in Middle School I tried to like Michigan over MSU. However, I found myself still rooting for MSU whenever they played. As a result, I took this as a sign and tried to like just MSU, but ran into the same problem. I still rooted for Michigan. Even worse, I couldn't choose when they played against each other. I would have friends ask me, "well who do you want to win then?" And I would just have to say, "well I really do like both, and since I like both, and I want the Big 10 represented well in the year end tournaments, I guess I would like to see the team doing well have a chance to play in the big game." Yes, I know what you are all thinking.. This guy is a bandwagon fan. But let me assure you, its not so much that I am just rooting for the better team. Its more that I just want to see both teams do well. And if one of them has a chance to win the championship, you'd better believe I'd rather have atleast one team from Michigan representing than neither. In the end, I like both partly cause I was not brought up to like one over the other, and also because I love sports and love to watch both teams. I realize its an anomaly, but I truly have never been able to choose. Thus, I root for both teams and follow both teams well. It may be frustrating to the die hards, but its even more frustrating when I am trying to watch a Michigan game or a State game and have fans from either side telling me to shut up because I'm not a "true fan." It may be odd, but I am a true fan of both schools.
And so I ask the community? Is this acceptable, or must he choose a side?
February 9th, 2013 at 8:57 AM ^
No a thousand times no. As Steven R said "this isn't beef or chicken". IMO this is carnivore or vegitarian. You can't be both at the same time.
If you are a true "fan" of MSU you do not like Michigan and vice versa. If you're a casual observer with no real vested interest in either team - sure you can like both. I'll give you an example of what I mean. If I moved to NYC or Boston I could "like" both the Yankees and the Red Sox cause I'm not from there and would have only a casual rooting interest in either team. But no way in holy hell could anybody born and raised in either city EVER say they were both a fan of New York and Boston at the same time. It just cannot happen.
February 9th, 2013 at 9:17 AM ^
February 9th, 2013 at 9:24 AM ^
In a household without generational or attendence allegiances, i can see it. I live in the UP now and i imagine that there's a lot of Yoopers like that ... though there's a lot of Yoopers who love the Tigers, Wings, and Packers, so with a history of treasonous behavior maybe it's not a good anecdotal data point.
I hate State, and i didn't attend either school (didn't apply to MSU, was accepted and declined UM, twice). I do however come from a multi-generational UM family and spent my childhood living in Ypsi. My first UM game was against IU in '79 when i was not yet 6, so the die was probably cast before i had the rational ability to make my own decisions. On the other hand, there's never been any thought of changing those allegiances.
I can see casual fandom for both schools, but that's about it.
February 9th, 2013 at 9:48 AM ^
...made me kind of throw up in my mouth. If you consider yourself a Michigan fan, you are not a Sparty. That is considered treason.
February 9th, 2013 at 10:40 AM ^
I grew up a fan of Michigan football and Michigan State basketball. My Mom went to MSU and my Dads entire side went to Michigan. I even rooted for MSU football and Michigan basketball when they were not playing eachother. As I grew older my allegiance to Michigan grew.
It was until college. which I went to neither, that I was so fed up with all of my Michigan State friends talking shit, I exclusively root for Michigan.
February 9th, 2013 at 10:57 AM ^
If you didn't go to either school but are a Michigan resident then your taxes are actually supporting both schools so in that sense I think it's fair to have a rooting interest in both as a representation of state pride.
For comparison sake, I remember back when three of the top college football teams were often the Florida schools. Those games weren't just local rivalries but the entire country was watching intently. I'm no Spartan but I would feel some pride if U of M and MSU were the top ranked teams in the country and Michigan was considered the center of the football universe. But having said that, it would be killer to lose a 1 vs. 2 matchup with the Spartans.
February 9th, 2013 at 11:41 AM ^
February 9th, 2013 at 12:29 PM ^