Tuesday night was important for Michiganians.

The Detroit Tigers owned the Oakland Athletics, energizing fans throughout the state.

And Gov. Jennifer Granholm and Dick DeVos clashed over how to improve the state's struggling economy.

Some students, who feel disconnected from the issues the candidates discussed, opted to watch Magglio and Pudge win instead of watching Jennifer and Dick spar.

Although she only watched a few minutes of Tuesday's debate, Amy White, a finance junior, said she got sick of candidates repeating the same campaign rhetoric.

Neither Granholm nor DeVos were explicit about their plans for improving state programs.

"There doesn't seem to be as much interest in the gubernatorial debate as there was in the presidential debate," White said. "A lot of people have their minds made up on who they are going to vote for."

To attract more college students, White said Granholm and DeVos must be specific about how they will improve the quality and affordability of an education in Michigan.

Giving little thought to this debate, Jessica Pierson, a retailing sophomore, said she went out for her friend's birthday and watched the Tigers game afterward.

"The baseball thing is such a big deal right now," Pierson said. "Sports is more interesting to students. Probably more than half don't care about the debates."

Some students said watching the debate wasn't one of their priorities for the evening. Other people who might have watched said they felt the issues they care about aren't being addressed.

Em Ketterer, a representative for the Women's Council, said she would have watched the debate if she hadn't been working. Having tuned in for the first debate, Ketterer said Granholm has a solid plan to improve Michigan's economy.

"The only way to get more jobs in Michigan is to move toward the service industry and bring in more technology-based jobs," she said.

Ketterer said she has not heard the candidates talk about any specific plans for higher education and wants them to begin talking about it.

Also interested in learning how each candidate can enhance higher education in Michigan, LaTonya Lloyd, a member of the Life Changers Student Association, said she wasn't able to see the debate because she was in class.

"I want to hear Granholm's concrete plan (for creating jobs) because I want to stay in Michigan," Lloyd said. "I want to see DeVos answer the questions he is asked and not hop around."

The last debate will be held Monday in Southfield.

Pierson said if either candidate cares about college-aged students, they'll talk about issues that matter instead of simply bickering about the economy. She wants to hear about issues that apply to her.

"We're not in the real world yet," she said.