Reporter sticks with U-M alliances

As the Michigan vs. MSU game draws closer, I feel that I must make a confession, even at the risk of being endlessly ridiculed or physically harmed.
I am a U-M fan.

No, you didn’t misread that just now. I am an MSU student, I am a fan of the Wolverines and proud of it.

Now let’s get two things straight before I continue: 1. I am not the quintessential Wolverine bandwagon fan 2. I am not a Wolverine fan because I couldn’t get into the school and am making up for it by being a fan (I got into both U-M and MSU and chose to come to MSU).

It seems odd, doesn’t it? Around here it’s almost a requirement for an MSU student to hold a deep hatred for anything Wolverine related. But I assure you I am a tried and true fan of the Maize and Blue.

I grew up a Michigan fan and that hasn’t changed much. Growing up, I loathed the Green and White. What did it matter if the men’s basketball team won a national title? To me the Spartans were lousy and I gave them no support whatsoever. When the U-M vs. MSU game came around, I cheered for the Wolverines every time.

When Jeff Smoker threw that last-second touchdown pass to T.J. Duckett in 2001, I cried foul play on “Spartan Bob,” as did every other U-M fan.
With MSU controlling the game in 2004, I cheered when Drew Stanton hurt his shoulder late in the game and Braylon Edwards eventually led U-M to victory in the third overtime. (And on that note I cheered and laughed when Stanton blew out his knee in the 2003 Alamo Bowl, too.)

Last year was no different. U-M was in the middle of a national title run and I didn’t want MSU screwing it up early in the season.

It isn’t always easy being a fan of the rival. I wouldn’t be caught dead wearing anything with a U-M logo on campus. Every time one of my State News colleagues calls them the Weasels in an article, I cringe. When Appalachian State scored an upset over the Wolverines, I was crushed.

I never felt more alone in my life as I walked home from Spartan Stadium listening to people cheer on the Mountaineers. I’m sure I was the only one not cheering every time they flashed the score of that game inside the stadium. Unfortunately, U-M will never live that loss down – especially not around here.

I will freely admit that since I’ve been at MSU, I’ve slowly come to be a fan of the Spartans. The only MSU team I give my full allegiance to is the hockey team (and that was before they won the national title.) I’ve cheered the Spartans on in football games, but I mock them just as easily (this season it hasn’t been hard). Tom Izzo’s teams own the Wolverines, no question.

Now this year’s game, however it turns out, will be interesting. MSU is looking for bowl eligibility, and has the talent to pull off an upset. U-M has rebounded from its 0-2 start and is making a run at the Big Ten title. They have more than enough offensive weapons to wipe the floor with MSU. On that note, I’m still going to go with U-M.

Go Wolverines!