Sparty on.

About 40 members of MSU's glee club gathered Thursday afternoon in the autumn twilight to sing the "Michigan State Fight Song" in front of "The Spartan." With chants of "Sparty on," the group crowded the statue, located between Chestnut Street, Red Cedar Road and Kalamazoo Street. Several members of the club stood atop stone pilons conducting the singing.

Nearby on Demonstration Field, the Spartan Marching Band practiced for the Saturday MSU-University of Michigan matchup. As a tradition, Johnny Spirit and band members have made themselves responsible for guarding the statue, also known as Sparty, from U-M fans in the week leading up to the game.

Members of the band sit around the statue day and night, keeping themselves busy by playing catch with a football or Frisbee.

Jessica Brtva, a music education sophomore and band member, said she's stayed out every night this week. She said people are supportive of the band's Sparty Watch, and often come by honking their horns and bearing gifts such as brownies, pizza and hot chocolate.

Brtva said last night, MSU head football coach John L. Smith came by to show his support for the band members' efforts.

"He said you can always repeat a class, but not a Michigan week," Brtva said. "He said the team was bent on beating the blue-bellies from down the street."

Watching the band with Brtva, music education junior Sarah Engemann said the band braved the cold night with friendship and hot pizza. Both girls said they would be staying out all night tonight to protect Sparty.

"You drink hot chocolate, play frisbee, tell jokes about U-M and flirt with guys," Engemann said.

At the foot of Sparty, Nick Giacona, a no-preference freshman and glee club member, said the spirit of MSU is exemplified in the band's effort to protect the statue.

"Nothing says spirit more than sitting in front of the statue all day and night," he said.