MSU grad still a Michigan fan, Spartans heads explode

Submitted by UMxWolverines on
http://www.mlive.com/wolverines/index.ssf/2017/05/new_michigan_state_gr… Guy's been a Michigan fan his whole life and wanted to go to MSU. What's the problem? I've never understood why MSU people think once you go to a different school than you've been rooting for your entire life you HAVE drop them because you're giving this new school a bunch of money. Makes sense.

MadMatt

May 11th, 2017 at 10:17 AM ^

When I was on active duty I ran into another Officer who had both an Auburn degree and a "Roll Tide" poster on the wall of his office. I asked him what was up with that. He thought that was a pretty sophisticated question "for a Yankee."

mgoblueben

May 11th, 2017 at 10:17 AM ^

Bro, it's not okay. I'm from Ohio and while I was never a die hard osu fan, when I showed up to Michigan I pissed people off. Then again I was instantly converted my first football game and have never looked back but still not cool bro

Cosmic Blue

May 11th, 2017 at 11:29 AM ^

it was more than just that he was from ohio. by his post i think he meant that while not a die hard osu fan, he was still a fan. if he was just a mild fan and went to class in an osu hoodie or whatever, i can imagine people being pissed (or at least seriously confused)

pfholland

May 11th, 2017 at 10:18 AM ^

I don't think this is uncommon at all. Everyone in my immediate family went to Michigan with the exception of one of my siblings who went to State. He still roots for Michigan.

befuggled

May 12th, 2017 at 7:59 PM ^

Lopata just didn't make the kick. Sheridan wasn't sharp and they'd have probably won if Threet had stayed healthy, but I agree it wasn't all on Sheridan.

That 100 yard pick 6 Threet threw was a killer, too. That's potentially a 14-point swing.

You'll excuse me. I'm going to to Tequila shots now.

FauxMo

May 11th, 2017 at 10:18 AM ^

I'm torn. On the one hand, it's kind of funny and neat that he maintained his Wolverine love through 4 years of school at MSU. On the other hand, the guy did spend 4 years at MSU, and like it or not, that's his school, that's what his diploma will read, that experience is what will get him jobs, etc. As such, maybe don't wear a rival's t-shirt under your cap and gown when getting your diploma? Cheer during football/basketball games all you want, but this seems a little disrespektful... 

will

May 11th, 2017 at 9:05 PM ^

I've been a UM fan my whole life. UM offered me 20k a year towards undergrad, Miami offered me a full ride and a chance on walk onto the Tennis team. I cheered for UM every Saturday, went to only 2 football games in Oxford.

Fast forward 10 years my company offered to pay for my Fisher (OSU) MBA.

I wore my Michigan jacket around campus. I still love UM sports, but am proud of my degree as well. OSU isn't the academic joke it was in the late 90s.

bacon

May 11th, 2017 at 9:25 PM ^

"As such, maybe don't wear a rival's t-shirt under your cap and gown when getting your diploma? "

I'm shocked everyone is complaining so much about this and not the fact that he wore clothes at all. Who wears clothes under their robe to graduation?

WoodleyIsBeast

May 11th, 2017 at 10:18 AM ^

I've always gone by the thought that if you truly love a school, you don't have to be an alumni to be respected as a fan.  I have many friends and family that did not go to U of M, are in the military, attended other colleges, have been fans since they were young but never even went to college, etc....Who is anyone to tell them that they are not worthwhile?  That narrative comes from places like EL, where putting someone down might make someone feel better about their insecurities.   

Not to mention, the folks in Columbus that sat around us in November were awesome people. It's easy to hate on someone that you don't even know because of a broad affiliation.  That kind of behavior comes from someone that needs to belittle others to feel better about themselves.  

corundum

May 11th, 2017 at 11:10 AM ^

Agree completely. I was born and raised in SE Michigan and have loved Michigan since I started watching football in 1996. I chose to go to Ohio U for a very specific career path. I love both schools and we rarely play each other so it has all worked out.

1VaBlue1

May 11th, 2017 at 12:02 PM ^

I agree with this take.  For whatever reason, college wasn't something that ran in my family, and so I never thought of it as a 'required' thing.  So my choice after HS was the UAW or 7-11.  I chose the Navy and never looked back.  However, since the first day I can remember (going back to Dennis Franklin), Michigan sports (football/bball) has been my first love.  I didn't go there, but I'd throw punches if accused of being a 'bandwagon' fan!

Hail-Storm

May 11th, 2017 at 10:21 AM ^

would wear his Ohio State shirt under his Michigan shirt during the OSU game and take the Michigan shirt off if OSU was winning because that was the team he rooted for when he grew up.  Gotta pick a side. 

crg

May 11th, 2017 at 10:37 AM ^

My dad is a slight UM fan (more NFL than CFB), but he is one of those "cheer for whoever will piss off the most people" type of person.  I've taken him to a few UM games and I get a little bit of a chuckle out of it since he wears UM gear while doing it

copacetic

May 11th, 2017 at 10:25 AM ^

Had a friend who grew up an MSU fan. Went there for undergrad, and then did grad school at Michigan. He'd go to most games and root for us, as long as we weren't playing MSU. Seemed pretty reasonable to me. 

GoWings2008

May 12th, 2017 at 3:52 AM ^

Similar situation... Slightly different. (Just the same, but not...)
I went to Air Force but grew up a Michigan fan. Will always root for Michigan except when they play AF. I realize it's a losing battle, but my alma mater is not like the others. As soon as the game in September is over, back to being a Michigan fan.

lhglrkwg

May 11th, 2017 at 10:27 AM ^

I knew a guy at Michigan who loved MSU and stayed that way all through college. He loved MSU so much that he legit wore a red shirt to the OSU game our senior year. He was a grade A douche

chomz14

May 11th, 2017 at 10:27 AM ^

I'm surprised it took thus long to get posted. I think it's awesome! Our favorite Spartan troll Valenti and his minion Sully spent an hour on this topic on Tuesday whining about the kid.

HarbaughsLeftElbow

May 11th, 2017 at 10:31 AM ^

Even if you graduate Michigan, you are still pretty much a fan (with some additional "street cred") when it comes to cheering for the football team (in isolation). During your 4 years you get a bit closer to the team by taking classes with players/seeing them around campus/interacting with players in different ways but you still really have a small impact on the success/operations of the football team. 

Obviously you want to see all aspects of your university succeed (and this strengthens your fandom of the football team) but I don't think it is unrealistic to still harbor some serious fandom for the athletic programs of one school (even if it is a rival) while respecting your own institution (not sure if making a show of it on social media/local news meets this criteria). 

Bando Calrissian

May 11th, 2017 at 10:32 AM ^

Had a high school friend whose roommate in the dorm was an OSU fan from Columbus. I went over to his room a few weeks after The Game our freshman year. This tool had OSU gear all over his side of the room, a picture of their team celebrating after winning that year, went down to the Shoe for a good chunk of the games... 

No, man. Just. No. Even if you know Michigan is the better school and chose accordingly, if you're that big of a Buckeye, WTF.

Hail-Storm

May 11th, 2017 at 1:29 PM ^

sports from the school sometimes.  Like people have said, there are many MAC school attendees that are huge Michigan fans who didn't go to Michigan for various reasons. Good on that guy for putting his degree and future above a sports rivalry (which he still gets to enjoy in enemy territory). 

Blue and Joe

May 11th, 2017 at 10:36 AM ^

There's really no point to this debate. If the kid would have become an MSU fan, there's nothing wrong with that. He went to school there and became loyal to them. Whatever. Staying a Michigan fan is obviously cool too. You can be a fan of whatever school you want. There are no rules.

Dylan

May 11th, 2017 at 10:50 AM ^

I don't have the popular opinion.  Pro sports, sure -- I don't care if someone lives eight states away from his chosen team and he has never been to a game -- go ahead, be a fan.

There's just something about college, though -- feel like you have to be a fan of your alma mater if it is in the same -- I don't know -- "athletics tier" as a rival.

Meaning, sure -- if someone went to a directional school, by all means, be a bigger fan of Michigan or MSU sports.  But,  if you go off to Michigan, MSU, Notre Dame, OSU, etc.... feels a little dirty to me if you still hold the allegiance after actually attending one of those other schools (meaning for undergrad, of course).

bgoblue02

May 11th, 2017 at 11:06 AM ^

and I think there are some pedandict nuances to the fandom.  I have come around to anyone can be a fan of the team (with your points noted above) as well as the athlethics program as a whole.  But being a fan of the whole university has such  academic implications to it I feel as though you have to be an Alumnus and thats where the distincion may lay. 



Or I will be negged to oblivion; but who knows ... but I am ok with non alumnus fans of the football / basketball, etc team because as others have noted sports just does crazy things to you

HimJarbaugh

May 11th, 2017 at 11:56 AM ^

I would agree if college sports were not as big as they are financially. Only so many students get accepted to UM each year, so naturally there will be many thousands of others who spent the previous 18 falls with their family rooting for another team. How can you just stop that, especially when the athletic department runs on its own juice? 

bgoblue02

May 11th, 2017 at 12:17 PM ^

I am ok with what you just said but it should be noted those people are fans of Michigan Football or the Michigan Athlethic program. Saying your a fan of Michigan implies the whole university, including academics, which should be the geared to alumnus sub-group

billybrown

May 11th, 2017 at 5:14 PM ^

Is there such things as academic fandom? I've never heard of that ever. You can like a universities academics etc but I don't think fandom extends to that. When people say I'm a Michigan fan I'm pretty sure that's just the athletics. Am I nuts here or are there "fans" of academics?

bgoblue02

May 11th, 2017 at 10:29 PM ^

About the rest of the alumni on this board but I brag about my degree pretty much any chance I get. As noted by others on the board, the other schools are all good darn good schools, but none of them are Michigan.

So I would say yes - although it's not cheering like you would for sports there is an immense amount of pride.

bringthewood

May 11th, 2017 at 11:18 AM ^

The issue for Michigan is it's so damm hard to get into. So many fans who desire to go there are left out. If you can fog glass you can get into State so I would expect fewer diehard State fans at Michigan and many Michigan fans at State.