We had tickets in the graduate student section, on the aisle with the undergraduates. As the game wound up, so did crowd enthusiasm. Thousands of people were chanting in unison phrases such as, “F*** the Irish,” “1, 2, 3, first down, b****” and “He’s a p****,” in reference to an injured Notre Dame player, as well as a constant string of expletives directed at the referees.

I attended many MSU football games during my undergraduate and graduate studies, and, while none were perfect examples of crowd sportsmanship, this was different.

There has been a dramatic change in the character and class exhibited by some of my fellow Spartans. I understand youthful exuberance. But this was such a blatant lack of character that a 10-year-old boy could not help but comment on it often.

For those reading this who feel character is an obsolete quality of a bygone era, here is your wake-up call. Character is one of the most coveted attributes in hires by employers in high-performing companies. It carries people who may not otherwise have the best skill set. I have also seen the firings of many highly trained individuals for performance that was a direct result of poor character.

Care about it, and it will be a tremendous asset. Ignore it, and it will be a large obstacle to your success and happiness. You don’t lose it on Saturday night and find it on Monday morning. You live it. Not only did we lose Saturday night, we lost poorly.

Vince Schultz, MSU Alumnus