4 eRi TSrgan taq SPORTS www.michigandaily.com/sports sportsdesk@umich.edu THURSDAY NOVEMBER 1, 2001 8A 4 Sibling rivalry gets nasty 'M' could learn a lot from Spartans We've heard it all before. Michigan students call Michigan State students unintelligent, low- class, uncultured and socially malfunct. They say our campus is too big, our teams are easily beaten and our classes are jokes. We know nothing about their academic challenges, their social pressure or their mas- sive collections of knowledge. Meanwhile, Spartans students call Wolverines snotty, pretentious, boring, overambitious and big-headed. We complain that they don't even have a campus and their students take class competition over the top. They know nothing of our academic challenges, our social normal- cies or our Spartan pride. Our parties are riots. Your parties are lame. We shop at the lowly mall. Your prissy skin crawls at the thought of a bargain. Yes, we've definitely heard it all before. The truth is that there are people who fit both stereotypes at each school. There are slackers in Ann KRJSTA Arbor and there are geniuses on the LATHAM banks of the Red Cedar. Both The State schools have nationally acclaimed News sporting teams. It's hard for me to say it, but both schools, even Michi- gan, must have something to offer. To say every person at a school fits one personality is shortsighted. I don't like to lay blanket statements like that. I have friendships (although most are dwindling) with Michigan students. My brother was a Wolverine. I can't hate the entire Ann Arbor community. So let's imagine I can slice away the quality people at Michigan (all 36 of them) and directly attack the popula- tion of Wolverines who do fit the stereotypes. What's wrong with you people? I grew up in a somewhat affluent community brim- ming with people who thought they were better than oth- ers. The cool kids at my school were self-appointed, they were snotty and they were simply "better" than the rest of us. It's amazing how Michigan found a niche in attracting those social dingbats. But really, I'm curious. Explain this to me. How does a person become obsessed with being right, with being better, with material things? There is a kid like this in every class, the one who is always raising his hand, always correcting everyone else, and always telling everyone he got an "A" on a test. Michigan State is that quieter kid who also gets an "A" and just slips his paper in his bag, and smiles to himself. We're the kid that just gets the job done and goes home. You're not really smarter than us. You just rub every- one's face in it. We go on with our lives. On Saturday, I know some of those arrogant Michigan students will find a way into Spartan Stadium. They'll stand in our student section and say things like, "Go team, tally-ho!" They'll act as though they know every single thing about every single player. They'll shout out plays to head coach Lloyd "Scary face" Carr, as if he can hear them. In other words, they'll be those annoying ones that everyone will pick out and shower with obscenities. And that will be fun. But even more fun will be the game itself. Ignore Michigan's No. 6 slot in the national poll and the skewed No. 4 ranking in the Bowl Championship Series. Those numbers don't mean a thing in this game. Take a look at some other figures: Michigan State is 7-1 against the last eight Top 25 teams that have wandered into Spartan Stadium. We have won three of the last four outings in East Lansing against the Maize and Blue. And Michigan State is aver- aging more first downs, more total offense, more rush- ing yards and has given up fewer passing yards than Carr's squad. But stats are simply numbers on paper. They aren't the real reason we will beat Michigan on Saturday. You think you'll win because you're better. It's your mantra, your security blanket in life. And we're that person who sees you boast and than coolly gets the job done, smiles to ourselves and goes home. That's really why you don't like us, isn't it? Krista Latham, the State News sports editor, can't believe she said there are 36 quality people at U-M. It's more like 11. She can be reached at lathamkr@msu.edu The battle for state domination heads to East Lansing Wolverines' strengths enough to take, down ailing Spartans HE M ICHIG AN D ALY It's a no-brainer; Blue is far better B efore we play this annual our-school's-better- than-yours-game, let me establish a couple of facts: 1. Nobody who can pick between Michigan or Michigan State picks Sparty. The state's education ladder goes as fol- e lows: Michigan, Michigan Tech, Michigan State, directional school (Western, Eastern, Southern, etc.), community col- lege. Michigan is a world-renowned University. Michigan State is a cow college. This is a fact. Anyone who tells you differently, goes somewhere between Michigan State and community college. 2. James Madison is not a school in Michigan. It's a well-respected college in Virginia. When asked what school they attend, Sparties who couldn't manage to get into political science here say "James Madison," to feel better about their education. As if anybody from out-of-state has ever heard of this pro- gram. "James Madison" is a safety net R HAEL named after a forgotten president not GOODSTEIN affiliated with Michigan State. Mykingdom Its all right to be a lousy school if for a voice you're good at partying, something Sparties claim to be good at. "There be a hootin' tootin' barnburner tonight," they say. I say, burning couches, tear gas and news cameras don't necessarily make a good party. Michigan State is given credit for being a good party school because it's got nothing else going for it. It's like when the teacher calls a student a good speller because he's terrible at everything else. He's not really good at spelling, but he's got to be good at something. The reality is, when Michigan wants to, it's better than any school in Ingham county that actually offers a vending com- merce class (this is a real class. I shit you not!) at partying. Michigan annually throws Hash Bash and the Naked Mile, two nationally recognized parties. (By the way, I'm on to you Sparty. There's something a little more than suspicious about the "Michigan students" at these events who know nothing about Michigan). The parties at State are just 20 guys wearing fisherman hats and sleeveless Old Navy fleeces talking about how much better Michigan State's packaging program is than Michigan's. But despite all the ruckus at "The Farmhouse," your aver- age Michigan State student does try hard in school. The problem is that the average Michigan State student was that kid in elementary school who continuously answered the teacher's questions, but the answers were never close to being right. "Seven times six?" the teacher asked. "Thirteen!" he yelled (seven times six is 42, Sparty). It almost seemed like he talked to hear himself talk. You tell people that you could have come here, but fill-in- the-blank-program at State is better than anyone else's. Nobody believes you. Michigan is, has always been, and will always be, better. Nobody would rather be affiliated with State than us. I know you were told that "we're both good schools." "We're "not. State was ranked the Big Ten's worst liberal arts education. Around this state, Michigan takes what it wants, when it wants. Anything you do, we do better - even athletics. Now before you start hootin' and hollerin' about basket- ball, realize that we haven't cared about basketball in a long time. There's no other explanation for the Brian Ellerbe tenure. Even Tom Izzo knows that it took a series of strange events to lead to that little spurt of success that you had. He knows the Michigan State name won't hold water for very long. Now that that we've decided that we want to dominate bas- ketball again, we'll reestablish ourself as king. You guys have a nice hockey team, but when was the last time you won a national title? And football? Michigan strives for championship. Lans- ing's best hotel-management school strives for six wins, a win over "rival" Central Michigan, a trip to the Independence or Liberty Bowl and a subsequent loss to Louisiana State. - With four wins, you only need two more for that trip. And you just might get those wins. But you won't get one of them this week. Raphael Goodstein loves the fact that he just called Michigan State students a bunch of morons, and it was printed it in The State News. He can be reached at raphaelg@umich.edu. By Raphael Goodstein Daily Sports Editor Michigan heads to East Lansing this weekend with national title hopes, while Michigan State is playing the role of spoiler. These two teams played these same roles two years ago, when the Spartans upset Michigan, 34- 31. That year, Michigan could not stop Spartans' receiver Plaxico Burress, who gained 255 yards, often by using his bigger body to outmuscle the Wolverines' smaller defensive backs. A similar story unfolds this time. MICHIGAN STATE PASSING OFFENSE VS. MICHIGAN PASS- ING DEFENSE: Freshman Charles Rogers is the most dan- gerous receiver in the country, regardless of what Marquise Walker did last week. "I think he is a great player right now," Michigan coach Lloyd Carr said. "He has great speed and size. He has great hands and is tough. He runs.good routes. I don't think there is anyone out there who is as gifted as Charles Rogers." To date, no team has found a way to shut Rogers down, but teams that have contained him have done so by pressuring the quarterback. Michigan State will not be able to use its normal quar- terback rotation this week, as Ryan Van Dyke is injured, leaving Jeff Smoker as the Spartans' only quarterback. If the Wolverines are to win, they'll have to pressure him, and prevent Michigan State from making big plays. Michigan's secondary has yet to prove that it can do this against teams without as much talent as the Spar- tans. Michigan State will win this matchup, but by how much will determine who wins the game. Edge: Michigan State While defending him is a daunting task for any defense, Michigan just might have the defense to do it. The run-stopping part of the defense has been as good as any in the country. Senior middle linebacker Larry Foote is making his statement for the Butkus award, as he already has 21 tackles for a loss this season, just five shy of the Michi- gan record. He recorded 15 tackles at Iowa last week, seven for a loss. A big reason Foote's been as good as he's been this year is because of his supporting cast. Shantee Orr and Jake Frysinger are drawing lots of attention from opposing teams' offensive lines, and allowing for Foote to shoot the gaps and clean up. Frysinger left last week's game with an undisclosed injury, and is expected to play, but who can believe what coaches say this week? Edge: Michigan. MICHIGAN RUSHING OFFENSE VS. MICHIGAN STATE RUSH- ING DEFENSE: Michigan's rushing attack has been spo- radic this year. At times, it's looked like the Michigan rushing attack of old, grinding out games behind an impressive offensive line. At other times, the rushing attack has looked weak. In a big match up, expect everyone to bring their "A" game. This means that B.J. Askew will likely top the 100- yard barrier. If he does, Michigan will win. "Our goals are high and we want to run the football for a lot of philosophical reasons at this time I will not go into," Carr said. Advantage: Michigan MICHIGAN PASSING OFFENSE VS. MICHIGAN STATE PASS- ING DEFENSE: Michigan quarterback John Navarre has been better than anyone expected this year. Although he was shaky at times last week against Iowa, he's been good thus far this year. At times, he's even been very good. But he's yet to play an exceptional game. That game might, and probably should come this week. Michigan State is missing three defensive backs from its secondary, and with senior Marquise Walker trying to stake his claim as the nation's premier receiver, Walker might match Rogers' productivity Saturday. For most of the year, Walker has been Michigan's only consistent receiving threat. Walker will get his this week, but sophomore receiver Ronald Bellamy might finally break out of his season-long slump and post a big game on Michigan State's secondary as well. Navarre will need to limit the mistakes, but if he does, he'll have a huge game. Edge: Michigan SPECIAL TEAMS: Michigan State's return game is as good as any in the country. Both Rogers and Herb Hay- good have returned kicks for a touchdown this year and Michigan's return defense has been very shaky at times. The Wolverines gave up a punt return for a touch- down at the beginning of the second half of last week's game. Meanwhile, Michigan's kicking game has been shaky. Hayden Epstein at times looks like the best kicker in the country. At other times, he looks like he should not start. Edge: Michigan State INTANGIBLES: The Spartans are at home and seem des- tined for a big win. Coach Bobby Williams hasn't won a Imm - a mm- AW