Courtesy of Horizon Sports & Experiences, Yinuo Li, and Kenneth Dapaah
Former Michigan State linebacker Carl Banks knows exactly what this weekend’s rivalry game against Michigan means — because he’s lived it. A Spartan standout turned NFL star, Banks says the matchup remains just as intense today as it was when he played nearly four decades ago.
He was present at a meet-and-greet at Venmo Hall on October 24, an event hosted for all Venmo Debit Card users.
Banks was a standout linebacker for Michigan State during all four years of his college career, eventually earning the third overall pick in the 1984 NFL draft by the New York Giants. He went on to win two Super Bowls with the team and enjoyed an 11-year NFL career. Banks was inducted into the Michigan State Athletics Hall of Fame in 2012.
In his four years at MSU although they just beat Michigan one time it was always the biggest game on the schedule and an intense rivalry. Growing up in Michigan he knew the importance and what it means to play in a game of that magnitude with two teams that dislike each other as much as they do.
"It’s always intense, because there’s this big brother, little brother thing that goes back and forth and you know, just the arrogance of those that are from Michigan and you want to just humble them every chance you get," Banks said.
The biggest matchup on the schedule as an MSU player and it just means more to everyone involved which Banks made very clear. But even since he’s retired and sat back to watch as a fan it still holds a lot of emotion and importance not just for Banks but to all the students involved with both schools.
"As an adult watching this, it’s still the same because all of my friends that went to Michigan, if you follow my social media, they trash talk me all the time. So, every chance I get to trash talk back to them, I do it," Banks said on what the rivalry still means as a fan. "There’s no real wagering but if your team loses, you got to wear the opponent's jersey, so I’m hoping that we see a lot of Michigan fans wearing Michigan State jerseys next week."
No matter what the record is for either team going into the rivalry game every player is going out there to leave everything they have on the field and settle for nothing less than a win. The biggest detail to every big rivalry matchup is two schools with players and fans that dislike each other wanting all the bragging rights until next season.
Banks left Spartan fans with one message ahead of Saturday night’s rivalry game against Michigan:
"Go Green, Go White — as loud as you can, for as long as you can."
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