Tuesday, July 31, 2012

Behind Enemy Lines

I may not have attended Michigan State University or the University of Michigan, but I have been in the middle of the rivalry my whole life.
Growing up as a kid in Portland, my parents were big State fans and we would often find ourselves in Spartan Stadium or the Breslin Center cheering on the green and white.
During those years I started to develop a little bit of a bond with the maize and blue. I was in awe of the Fab Five and their brand of basketball, and in the later years, Charles Woodson would become my favorite football player as he went on to win the Heisman Trophy.
However, all of those feelings for both teams turned into nothingness as I went on to attend Central Michigan University and checked myself out of Michigan's biggest rivalry.
One person that didn't check out was my brother. He decided to dip his toes into the maize and blue, attending Michigan for college, and he hasn't been the same since. He is, to say the least, a die hard Wolverine.
My parents still have the strong ties to MSU, and like many Spartan fans I know, enjoy watching a Michigan loss more than a State win.
So, as I now make my home between the two schools and prepare for a new season of MSU and Michigan smack talk on the football field and the hardwood, I feel it is my duty to provide as much info on both as I can, in a completely unbiased opinion.
I have no ties to either, was once a fan of both, and now just enjoy seeing the two fight with one another.
Who has the edge in recruiting? Which program is in a better state? Is Michigan-MSU more important than Michigan-Ohio State?
I will be willing to answer all those questions day-by-day, week-by-week, without any favoritism to either school.
If you are a Michigan die hard, you probably will accuse me of being a State fan.
If you are a Spartan slappy, you probably think I am a Wolverine fan.
But, I assure you, my allegiances are to calling it like I see it and healthy debate throughout the year.
Feel free to share your thoughts and offer your questions. I love the passion of the fans.
But, sometimes you all need a reality check.