This past weekend, many Spartans traveled to MSU’s enemy territory, Ann Arbor, for the annual rivalry football game against the University of Michigan. In the days and weeks leading up to the game, students and fans of both schools hurled insults at the other, telling them how weak of a football team they had and why their rival would lose.

This type of trash talk is common for students and fans who take pride in the school they attend or are fans of, and is popular especially for sporting events. Of course, both sides will cheer for their schools, and this playful hate is what helps fuel a rivalry.

Even The State News and U-M’s student paper, The Michigan Daily, get involved in these playful insults, as was displayed in the dueling columns published last Friday. The State News respects its rival paper and the work The Michigan Daily staff publishes, but just like other students, staffers at The State News will defend MSU against its rival.

Yet, when these schools come together on game day, as was seen this year and last year in East Lansing, both the students and alumni know how to have a good time, regardless of the rivalry.

Students meet each other at tailgates and make new friends, even as both might poke fun at the other for wearing the opposing school’s colors. And alumni and fans from both schools meet to watch the game together, enjoying each other’s company despite the difference in the team they root for.

Of course, this casual trash talk is playful and amusing for both sides, but anything more than this can be rude and uncalled for. No one should physically harm another because of a rivalry, or hurl insults that are personal and go too far.

But usually, the fans who push the limits of playful barbs and quips have no affiliation with the school itself except they cheer for their athletic program.

A State News article published last week explained the precautions taken to ensure the safety of members of both marching bands when traveling to opposing cities, and told a story of an incident where a glass bottle allegedly was thrown at the Spartan Marching Band.

Such actions are negative results of a rivalry, but usually happen infrequently.

Ultimately, the Spartans lost this weekend, and all students who were wearing green and white heard about the shortcomings of their football team from others donning maize and blue. Those who traveled to East Lansing last year from Ann Arbor dealt with a similar aftermath when the Spartans were victorious. But Ann Arbor and its residents were a great host to MSU students and alumni this weekend, and MSU will continue such gracious hospitality when the Wolverines travel to East Lansing next year.

Until then, the insulting of sports teams and the athletic programs of these two fine institutions will continue.