It was the rivalry in the divided house that everyone was focused on this past weekend when our Michigan State Spartans played the University of Michigan Wolverines.
Spartans were able to win the Paul Bunyan Trophy for the fourth year in a row, in a 28-14 win over the Wolverines.
Despite the tension on and off the field, the day was mainly focused around celebration.
“We have a fun rivalry,” said Jourdan Weiss, a recent graduate of MSU.
Jourdan Weiss and her sister Peyton, who attended the game together this Saturday, truly know the meaning of “A House Divided.” Both Jourdan Weiss and her mother attended MSU, while Peyton Weiss is currently a junior at University of Michigan.
“I’m like the black sheep in the family,” said Peyton Weiss. “I don’t get to wear Michigan gear around the house.”
When it comes to having a Wolverine in Spartan territory, most Spartans tend to welcome their rivals with open arms – and just a little smack talk.
“I know the Michigan State people – Spartans – are always friendly,” said Jourdan Weiss. “I don’t think there’s too much tension when someone brings a friend.”
Despite the cold day, music, cheers and the smell of outdoor grills of tailgaters filled the air around campus on Saturday. While tailgating technically did not start until around 7 a.m., most tailgaters, Spartans and Wolverines alike, got to campus early.
The Weiss girls, like most students, tailgated in front of south complex at the tennis courts. The tennis courts seem to be widely accepted by students as the go-to tailgate location, however some students branch out from this norm.
“I know a lot of people like going to the frat houses before,” said journalism sophomore Jessy McGreggor. “Cops can’t do much about it if you’re drinking there.”
Maize and blue clad Michigan supporters tailgated right along side, and sometimes with, State fans.
Even the packed Michigan State student section had several “students” wearing Michigan colors. Many students at MSU are able to get friends into the student section by simply paying for the amount of a ticket and borrowing the seller’s student ID.
While here, University of Michigan fans received their fair share of taunting this year. Plenty of the infamous “A**hole” cheers were directed at the visitors, however much of the comments and “boos” were in jest.
“We are pretty friendly because we know people there, but when you mix drunk people with arrogance you get a lot of people drunkenly rubbing in the win and being stupid,” said McGreggor.
According to Michigan State Police Clery Crime and Fire Log, in the full 24 hours of game day, midnight to midnight, there were approximately 31 reported crimes on campus and 15 reported “minors in possession.”
Despite a few exceptions, the Michigan State vs. University of Michigan game was a fun day for everyone on campus, but mainly the Spartans. Not only did we win, but we got to Sparty it up!