U-M fans eager for Saturday football game, relive past clashes with MSU
For the 11th year, members of the Theta Xi fraternity have taken it upon themselves to protect the brass block M in the middle of the University of Michigan Diag from any potential vandalism at the hands of a Michigan State University fan. Pictured defending the M on Wednesday afternoon are, from left to right: Alexis Newton, Jessie Hancock, Collin Peterson Sam Bushemi, Mark Ciaravino and Phil Kalinowski. Lon Horwedel | AnnArbor.com
No dastardly green-clad students have rushed the block M on the University of Michigan’s Diag for the past three years, but that doesn’t mean the brothers at Theta Xi are slacking off.
That’s why Wednesday morning, they could be found arranging couches in a square around the landmark and settling in for the rest of the week.
Defending the M has become a tradition for the fraternity, which has been standing watch for the last 11 years.
Those who will spend their time this week on vigilant standby say they won’t be surprised if some Spartans end up in Ann Arbor, looking to leave their mark.
Anticipation is high this week as, for the first time since 1999, both the University of Michigan and Michigan State University enter Saturday’s 3:30 p.m. football game with undefeated records.
The game is generating buzz nationally - thanks to story lines surrounding Denard Robinson’s rush toward a possible Heisman Trophy, Michigan coach Rich Rodriguez’s hopeful season of redemption and the return of MSU coach Mark Dantonio to his team after suffering a heart attack and a blood clot.
The last two times the Wolverines and Spartans met, the Spartans were victorious. Michigan fans are hoping to turn that trend around this year.
“I’m ready. Got my Spartan friends’ cell (numbers) all lined up so I can call and give them (crap) any time Michigan does anything good,” said Mike Rollston, a longtime U-M fan. “I’m so ready for a win. It’s good to be good again after a couple of rough years.”
With optimism about the Wolverines’ chances growing this year, fans are ready to talk smack to their friends - and aren’t shy about reminding them of past triumphs in the rivalry.
Take James K. Wight, the F.E. Richart, Jr. Collegiate Professor of Civil and Environmental Engineering at U-M. He still likes to bring up the 2004 game to his son, who was an MSU senior then.
“We attended the game together; he as an MSU fan and me as a U-M fan,” he recalled. “When MSU opened up a big lead midway through the fourth quarter, he and several other MSU fans in the stadium were in ecstasy. As a dad, I looked at him and thought this was OK, what a great memory for his senior year, and I was there to share it with him.
“We all know about Michigan's comeback victory in three overtimes — a game that I think is one of the greatest games in the history of the series. However, as you might expect, my son does not share my opinion. It is a game he prefers to not talk about.”
Drew Montag flashes back to Section 19 on Nov. 2, 2002, for his favorite memory of the U-M vs. MSU matchup.
“The year before was when ‘Spartan Bob’ had cheated Michigan out of a win by stopping the clock before the play was dead, so feelings were running high,” he said.
Several Spartan fans, unhappy with MSU head coach Bobby Williams, were holding up "Fire Bobby Williams" signs. Several Michigan fans held up signs saying "Keep Bobby Williams,” instead.
“Of course, no one knew that Williams would be fired the next day,” Montag said. “A pair of loyal MSU fans sat right in front of me, and when MSU kicked a field goal on their first drive to go up 3-0, the man leaned over to the woman and said, ‘Even if the final score is 49-3, at least we didn't get shut out.’ As it turned out, that was exactly the final score, but I didn't get a chance to remind him of his great prediction since they left in disgust at the end of the third quarter, when it was ‘only’ 35-3.”
The in-state rivalry offers plenty of chances to trash talk and bet against friends, family and co-workers whose loyalties lie with the other team.
“I am a die hard MSU fan, and my buddy is a U of M fan,” Mark Mieras said. “For years, we would trade whose house we would watch the game at, eat, drink and yell at the TV and each other. He has since long moved to the Phoenix area, but our rivalry knows no boundaries.”
The tradition lives on, even 1,200 miles apart. This year, they’ll watch the game at Mieras’s home in Manchester.
“We take turns going to each others houses, simply for the MSU / U of M game, and still eat, drink, and yell at the TV and each other,” he said. “It is always one of the best weekends (each) year.”
David Jesse covers higher education for AnnArbor.com. He can be reached at davidjesse@annarbor.com or at 734-623-2534.
Comments
David Briegel
Fri, Oct 8, 2010 : 8:15 a.m.
Also, I hate to hear any discussion of injuries and brawls. These are kids! I hope it is a clean, hard fought,injury free yet intense game where the cool headed Leaders and Best prevail!
David Briegel
Fri, Oct 8, 2010 : 8:09 a.m.
I think the winner will have to score 40 or more. Should be a beautiful day for a great Meeeechigan Victory! Go Blue!!
Sevans68
Thu, Oct 7, 2010 : 9:23 p.m.
I don't see any way MSU holds UM to 14 or 21 points. Notre Dame scored more than that at MSU. I'm looking for a good close game and I think the defense that forces a couple of field goal attempts wins. UM 38 MSU31
stunhsif
Thu, Oct 7, 2010 : 8:50 p.m.
@ Sparty On, A bit optimistic at MSU 42 M 14. But I am with you brother. I see the score as MSU 38 M 21. Go Green Go White
Kubrick66
Thu, Oct 7, 2010 : 8:38 p.m.
Yelmonian... You can't spell Clark Kent without Denard Robinson... Well actually you can. But you get the point. Sunny, 70's. Gonna be a fast track. And we all know who that favors... Right?
Yelmonian
Thu, Oct 7, 2010 : 5:42 p.m.
As the old joke goes... why does RR eat cereal on a plate? Because he doesn't know what a bowl is! ba dum dum! patshhshh! Denard, Denard, Denard. 85 scholarship kids on a football team... 11 on the field each play... and I have only heard about Denard. MSU will be bringing Jones, Baker, Cousins, Bell, Martin, Dell, Gordon, Gant... Long day for UM. State by 10!
michiganexpats.com
Thu, Oct 7, 2010 : 4:46 p.m.
Go blue! Can't wait for the game.
kenUM
Thu, Oct 7, 2010 : 3:56 p.m.
Oh Sparty! Your green and short and wrinkly and hopelessly ugly, but what the heck...........your still MICHIGAN. Hope coach D is feeling better!
Lorain Steelmen
Thu, Oct 7, 2010 : 3:20 p.m.
I will be very surprized if DRob doesn't get knocked out of the game, with a 'cheap shot' personal foul by one of the Green & White. (What the heck did you guys do to those sparty hats?, ughhh!) How else would they win this game? As long as he plays, the Wolverines WIN. And we all know that the fragile Spartan egos can't tolerate that. Over the years...46 for me, the Spartans always play their best game of the year against UM, then stink up the place, the rest of the season. So here it is guys, UM 38 - Moo U 17!
umgoblue47
Thu, Oct 7, 2010 : 2:44 p.m.
robotmonster... how many STARS do you hope to see, because you will be seeing a lot more then 3...GO BLUE...
Kubrick66
Thu, Oct 7, 2010 : 12:56 p.m.
Fun Facts... MSU's 35-21 victory over Michigan two years ago was the first time since 1967 that MSU has beaten Michigan by two TD's or more... Over the same span Michigan has returned the favor 21 times... Ouch. I don't expect either to accomplish that feat this weekend. GO BLUE!
xmo
Thu, Oct 7, 2010 : 12:33 p.m.
I Love Rich ROD! He is the best U of M coach since Bump Elliot! Go SPARTY! make it 3 in a row!
Long Time No See
Thu, Oct 7, 2010 : 12:27 p.m.
@robotmonster If you're looking for parody, look no further than the great tradition of dueling articles between U-M and MSU: http://www.michigandaily.com/content/battleground-state?page=0,1 http://www.michigandaily.com/content/2008-10-23/youre-little-brother-because Or did you mean "parity"? If so, how can there be parity when one school is clearly superior to the other? (I'm kidding, of course... it's just part of the rivalry) Go Blue!
GoblueinNE_PA
Thu, Oct 7, 2010 : 11:44 a.m.
OH SNAP!! LOL. Good one SouthMain and right on target.
1201SouthMain
Thu, Oct 7, 2010 : 10:08 a.m.
Sparty here's how it really happens.... Monday morning you're nowhere to be found cause your surfing MSU basketball sites.
Sparty On!
Thu, Oct 7, 2010 : 9:52 a.m.
It's funny how Blue always brings up MSU basketball without MSU ever bringing it up. Here's how the game plays out, 2nd quarter MSU is up 21-14...then Denard gets injured because it's bound to happen. MSU goes on the win the game 42-14. The Sparty has to hear about how Michigan would have won if they had Denard, and yadda yadda yadda, and then bring up how their overall record is much better and how they have made it to more bowl games and (am I hearing past performances here). Speaking of which, when is the last time Michigan beat MSU in football or basketball? Isn't around 3 years?
GoBlue2009
Thu, Oct 7, 2010 : 9:23 a.m.
@robotmonster: Oh, don't worry, the Spartans have definitely brought their share of 'parody' to the rivalry, lolz. It seems they keep repeating past performances. Go Blue!
robotmonster
Thu, Oct 7, 2010 : 8:48 a.m.
I hope the day arrives when an MSU victory over UM is just another victory and not on par with an National Championship- just a piece of the puzzle to a successful season. This will only happen with parody in the series, which has been elusive for Sparty. Hope it stars with three in a row for the first time since LBJ was in office.
enigmaingr
Thu, Oct 7, 2010 : 8:41 a.m.
I believe this rivalry has been taken to a new level over the last few years. Dantonio made it clear that one of his goals is to remove MSU from UM's shadow. Of course, we'll get the some ol' reaction from Spartan fans. If they win, they'll talk like they won the national championship; if they lose, we'll have to hear the smack talk about how basketball season is coming and how football doesn't really matter at MSU.
johnnyonenote
Thu, Oct 7, 2010 : 7:35 a.m.
This ole geezer goes back a looong way, actually to Fritz and Biggy...1946 when we smashed the Spartans 55-0 in the opener. Arguably UM's best team in history...well, Biggie turned the tables my frosh year in '50, to the tune of MSU 25-UM zilch. MAC wasn't even in the Big Ten at this point....but in '52 won the National Title. State went on to b eat us for all 4 years of my undergraduate years!! Then my kids had the audacity to go to MSU... the next time I saw THE GAME was in 2004. You know what happened in triple overtime!! So, I'm betting on Big Blue this year, if we can just tackle a little bit. GO BLUE!!!
jmac
Thu, Oct 7, 2010 : 6:59 a.m.
Thank you, Theta Xi! But...is that upholstered furniture I see? Hope campus police don't issue any tickets...