You've done well, MSU. Now don't screw it up.
MSU students have shown the world that they have the restraint to turn a weekend of March Madness victories into a safe and spirited celebration. Response to the MSU men's basketball team's upset against Kentucky on Sunday could have turned ugly, but you handled yourself well.
Likewise, MSU police officers played their cards right and kept the merrymaking on Grand River and Albert avenues from getting out of control. Smartly deployed officers and the absence of horses kept students moving when they needed to and allowed them to get their excitement out when it was appropriate.
By the end of the night, the festivities looked more like a foot race as law enforcers repeatedly kept the crowds from stopping to fester. From Albert Avenue to the Cedar Village area to the rock on Farm Lane, the flock's size gradually shrank, and by the end of the night, only a couple arrests had been made.
The mentality of the crowd certainly played a role as well. During the event, there was little open drinking to be seen, and people generally adhered to the officers' requests with little complaint.
Some might point to the fact that MSU's win was the reason no destruction was caused. There might be truth to that, but at the same time, that hasn't been the trend across the country.
West Virginia University fans rioted in Morgantown after the Mountaineers beat Texas Tech in the regional semifinals on Thursday. Rowdy crowds set fires throughout the city, flipped a car and caused police to arrest fans and use mace. Mountaineers fans partied well into the wee hours, whereas MSU's campus cooled before the stroke of midnight.
In parts of the nation, college crowds have used victory as a reason to cross the line with their revelry, but not here. Even on Friday, after MSU's Sweet 16 victory against Duke, the late-ending game did not whet an appetite for destruction - perhaps in part because many students were at home for the weekend.
As the men's team takes on North Carolina in the Final Four on Saturday in St. Louis, students will again be given the chance to prove themselves able to tastefully show school spirit. With the stakes higher, and a shot at a trip to the National Championship on the line, it will take even more work from police and students to make sure everything goes smoothly.
If MSU loses, students can enjoy the fact that the team has made it this far in the tournament - a victory within itself. If they win, then fans can carry on what was started Sunday.
Although massive rejoicing over sporting events has gained a negative connotation for its tendency to turn violent, when done right, it's great. There's no release like celebrating with like-minded fans, chanting the fight song and showing excitement for your team's accomplishments - that's the good part.
The negative results of celebrations have nothing to do with enjoying sports. Keep the focus on what's most important Saturday - showing Spartan spirit.
