Terry Foster: I'm Neutral When It Comes To Michigan Vs. Michigan State
I love Michigan and I love Michigan State. I grew up in the state of Michigan and they are both my schools.
But I am neutral on the rivalry between my two beloved schools. You see, I am a Chippewa and a proud graduate of Central Michigan University.
I stay out of the way when Wolverines and Spartans throw spears and arrows. And to be honest I do not care where they land. If Michigan turns things around and spanks the Spartans this weekend, I am cool with it. If the Spartans decide to beat down on Michigan for a fourth straight season I am cool with that also.
I don't care what happens. For the past 30 years I've had the same request of Michigan and Michigan State. Give me one exciting football game in the fall and then give me two exciting basketball games in the winter. That's all I want. This is not my fight.
This is one of the greatest rivalries in the nation. Michigan is the big bad monster. Michigan State is the scrappy underdog that is trying to wrestle the crown from the Wolverines forever. To me, part of this rivalry is fake. I hear players and coaches hate one another but I know they don't until game day.
There are too many people who think there is hatred across the board. It simply is not true. Spartans basketball coach Tom Izzo bent over backwards to help Michigan build its new basketball facility. Coaches are friends and they want the state of Michigan to succeed.
I want that also. That is why I am Switzerland on this. I see no reason to root against any of these teams when they are playing other teams. I simply refuse to root for them when they play each other.
Go Green! Go White!
And go Blue!
