Although I understand the rivalry between MSU and U-M is strong (believe me — I was in the student section yelling just as hard as the next person on Saturday), I really don’t understand why the “trash talking” always has to become offensive. If we’re going to talk trash about U-M’s “outstanding offense,” can’t we limit it to the facts? Like the fact that their quarterback has thrown the most interceptions of anyone this year? Or maybe remind them how their “little brother” has dominated them for the last three (now four) years running?
That, to me, is acceptable. But why is it that the trash talking can never stay there? Reading The State News on Friday, I was excited to read the pro-MSU piece about the game, but the more I read the more I was disappointed. In particular, why do the females at each school have to enter the debate? “Oh, MSU is better because we have hotter girls, and the chicks at U-M look like Rosie O’Donnell.”
Sorry if I’m off base here, but I see no reason the female body of either school should enter the football debate. Furthermore, the rising use of the “little sister” phrase to describe U-M I find equally unsettling. As though it’s somehow worse to be a little sister than it is to be a little brother.
I remember being incredibly offended when Mike Hart first called us the “little brother,” but I also remember feeling determined to prove him wrong. It’s perfectly fine to turn that around and say, “Hey, who’s the little brother now?” But do we need to try to one-up them by calling them “little sister?” By playing their game and sinking to their level, we do ourselves a disservice.
Why can’t we just rise above their adversity and leave it all on the football field? I understand the students are going to yell — and they absolutely should — but is it so hard to keep things classy? Do we really need to stoop to petty and somewhat offensive comments to make ourselves feel superior to U-M?
Because, personally, that win was enough for me. The feeling I get when we beat U-M and I get to watch their arrogant, entitled faces drop into expressions of disbelief, that’s enough for me to feel superior. Shouldn’t that be enough for the rest of the student body, too?
Melissa Houghton, anthropology senior
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