This game has a way of drawing them out of you
Earlier this year, I was fortunate enough to be able to cover my first game at Oregon and share that experience with TOC. Now, I’m equally excited to cover a rivalry that I’ve followed for as long as I can remember for the first time. It turns out I have a lot of stored up thoughts about that, although maybe not as many as this masterpiece .
Each time I see a University of Michigan hat, t-shirt, or sweatshirt, I throw up in my mouth a bit.
Photo by Aaron J. Thornton/Getty Images
But let me be clear, this unpleasant, distasteful reaction is not due to the Michigan alumni or fan base. I am 2245 miles away from The Big Hole, er Big House, in Ann Arbor. I haven’t been back to the state of Michigan in 30 years (something I hope to change one day). I saw the rivalry first hand growing up in Plymouth, MI but am just too far removed now to be able to claim any knowledge or opinion of the UM community.
Instead, this reactionary sickness is due to the nauseating behavior of the University of Michigan Athletic Department and, worse, their ability thus far to get away with it. Unlike how the general population of the great State of Michigan, who may be Spartans, Wolverines, or something else, goes about its daily business, this UM BS has been on full display for anyone who cares to look.
The Connor Stalions cheating saga has been well documented. Among many other things, he was playing dress up in Spartan Stadium last year and, to date, Michigan and Central Michigan haven’t really had to answer for it. However, worse than this, in my view anyway, is another Michigan football cheating incident, this one involving recruiting violations.
Adam Cairns/Columbus Dispatch / USA TODAY NETWORK
The Covid-19 pandemic and the restrictions on daily life that came with it were a challenging and perhaps divisive time in this country. This is not the space to rehash all of that, but one such restriction was the NCAA enacting a prolonged recruiting “dead period” where in person visits with recruiting prospects were not permitted. Michigan’s response to this? Sure, we’re in a global pandemic, but let’s bring some recruits to A-squared! We’re Michigan fergodsakes!
In my view, this perfectly represents the sense of self-importance of the self-proclaimed “leaders and best.”
Yes, Arizona State , and perhaps other schools did the same thing. But Herm Edwards at ASU lost his job while Jim Harbaugh got to claim a national championship before bolting to NFL a la Pete Carroll. Moreover, ASU’s penalties included a self-imposed postseason ban for 2023, scholarship reductions, and recruiting restrictions. Michigan’s punishment ? They did receive recruiting restrictions but no scholarship reductions and certainly not a postseason ban.
As if all of that weren’t enough, another less serious but obnoxious antic where Michigan gets the preferential treatment that they apparently feel they so richly deserve involves their refusal to play Friday night games . A quick check of Michigan’s schedule reveals – surprise – no Friday games! Meanwhile, MSU will play their second Friday game (excluding the traditional season opener) next month, against Purdue.
Again, I don’t have a grasp on the Michigan fan base but, if I had to guess, all of this would just be dismissed as Spartan whining. What can be done about it? Resist the urge to do everything I’ve done above and just win. And then move on to Indiana.
I don’t know if this will be a popular take amongst the Spartan Faithful but, to me, the MSU-UM rivalry was best represented when Tom Izzo’s and John Beilen’s teams went head to head in basketball. There seemed to be genuine respect between the two coaches and both teams were good, regularly competing with each other for Big Ten championships. It just seemed like good competition without all of the exhausting talking back and forth.
I also like the way that Jonathan Smith is approaching the game. He has acknowledged the importance of the rivalry and stated that it’s the most important game of the season, without throwing any more fuel on the fire:
“I’ve felt it since getting here . . . understanding this is an important game, the most important regular season game we’ll play, and that passion for it, which I love being a part of.”
To be fair, I don’t believe Michigan head coach Sherrone Moore has said anything inflammatory either.
Let’s just get to it, line up, and play the game.
Anyway, O says we’re supposed to do a prediction here so maybe I should finally get to that. All I really want to do is this but I’m not sure that’s going to be entirely accurate for this game.
It does feel a lot like 2008, Dantonio’s second year, where MSU rolled into Ann Arbor and came away with a 35-21 victory. Like 2008, it appears that both teams may be headed in opposite directions this year.
Unfortunately, however, predicting MSU to roll to victory may not be as easy as it might seem. Something unexpected often happens. Who had MSU going 6-7 on field goals against Iowa? Or running for over 200 yards? Or maintaining a nearly 2:1 advantage in time of possession? Not punting?
For MSU, it seems reasonable that they would want to employ a similar defensive game plan as they did against Iowa – make every attempt to limit Michigan’s strong running game and force them to pass.
Photo by Michael Hickey/Getty Images
Through three different starting quarterbacks, production in the passing game has been elusive for Michigan. Turnovers have also been a problem but there may be small signs of life. Last week against Illinois, Jack Tuttle – the Wolverines’ third try at a starting quarterback this year – completed 20 passes for over 208 yards, a season high for Michigan. If UM can somehow build on that and prevent turnovers, MSU may have to make adjustments to their defensive plan.
Even with MSU riding high after the Iowa win and two losses in a row for the Wolverines, both by double digits, I just don’t see Michigan lying down for this one. However, even though I didn’t see this as an MSU victory at the beginning of the season, now I do think MSU gets it done.
Both teams will be ready to play and the defenses will largely carry the way in the first half. MSU will take a narrow lead into halftime before opening it up a bit in the second half. Michigan scores a late touchdown to make the final a little closer than it actually is but the Spartans leave Ann Arbor happy with a 24-17 win. Bring on Indiana!
Rick Osentoski-Imagn Images