Although an autumn breeze and rain rushed through Michigan State University’s campus, it didn’t stop members of the Spartan Marching Band and alumni from showing up for the annual Sparty Watch on Wednesday night, rekindling the spirit and tradition that defines Rivalry Week.
Dating back to the 1970s, Sparty Watch started as a way for members of the Spartan Marching Band and students to protect the statue from vandalism, historically targeted by University of Michigan's Wolverines, by guarding the statue 24 hours a day during Rivalry Week. Over the decades, the tradition has evolved into a celebration of Spartan pride and community spirit.
For graphic design senior Noah Vandlen, the annual Sparty Watch means so much more than just standing guard to protect Spartan Statue from would-be vandals during Rivalry Week leading up to Saturday’s Football matchup against the University of Michigan.
"I think we get a little protective of Sparty," Vandlen said. "He's our keepsake: he's something important to the university, he's a landmark of the university and we take great pride in. This is something we do and this is something that we show up for."
Vandlen, who grew up 20 minutes away from campus and has been a lifelong Spartan fan, said this year’s rivalry against U-M is sentimental to him, reminding him of his grandfather, who unexpectedly passed away over the summer.
"I've grown up a die hard Michigan State fan and it was funny because in my family, my grandpa was a Michigan fan and so every year around this time, we'd be giving each other crap and trash-talking each other," Vandlen said.
Now a senior and a part of the Spartan Marching Band, Vandlen said this year’s rivalry leading up to the game is more important to him than ever before.
"I'm thinking about him a lot more this week and I've always 'hated' Michigan and it's been like a very passionate rivalry for me. But this year, I feel like I can respect it a lot more and kind of see it how he did because he'd always root for me. And me being in the marching band was one of his biggest joys and watching me every Saturday, so I think that's kind of how I'm feeling going into the week this year," Vandlen said.
Vandlen emphasized the importance of student involvement with campus traditions like Sparty Watch, hoping more current students would take part in it.
"I'd like to see a lot more involvement from the students in general," Vandlen said. "It's a big week for all of us at the university and we all take the rivalry a little more seriously. It kind of affects how our weekend's gonna go, like depending on how Saturday goes, Sunday might be good or bad for me, but I think seeing the students show up more to Sparty would be a good thing."
Many members who attended Wednesday evening’s Sparty Watch were treated with hot pizza, hand-delivered by MSU Football head coach Jonathan Smith, who gave those in attendance some words of encouragement.
"Thank you for all your continued efforts in the games, for tonight, and then especially Saturday night," Smith told marching band members. "We're gonna need you in a big, big way. Greatly appreciate all of you, all the work you put in, how you represent us, how you add to our energy and whatnot. Our guys have been working, we're gonna fly around Saturday night, and you're gonna help us a ton with that."
With Wednesday evening’s Sparty Watch tradition comes spirit and excitement, something Smith hopes to harness and use as momentum for his players heading into Saturday’s game, to prevent a loss to the Wolverines for the fourth year in a row.
"We want to continue the spirit," Smith said. "I think about the energy, the passion we need to play with. I think it's an awesome tradition to start our game day walking through the passion of the fan base and all the passionate Michigan State fans are, and that's a great way we try to filter that into home games, especially a game like this one Saturday night."
Shortly before Smith departed, he joined marching band members in singing MSU’s fight song, with a chorus of buses, trucks and cars passing by the intersection honking in support.
For sports journalism freshman and tenor saxophone player Andy Singler, participating in his first Sparty Watch has been a great experience due to meeting Coach Smith, Zeke the Wonder Dog and enjoying the company of his fellow marching band members.
"Being able to watch Sparty, making sure he's protected at all times, is really cool," Singler said. "Historically, it started as protecting Sparty, but I think now it's blossomed into showing that no matter what happens, the spirit of MSU never dies and we're always willing to stay up late all throughout the night to protect Sparty."
As someone who grew up in Lansing, political science and tenor saxophone player Israel Lopez emphasized he fully understands the gravity and emotion that rivalries like this one carry.
"I know how heated this rivalry can get, so I'm so excited for this weekend, especially since I'm in the marching band as well, and I know the Spartans are gonna win this weekend. I can feel it," Lopez said. "'Little bro' better watch out this weekend, we're gonna crush them this weekend."
Jim Foley, one of Zeke the Wonder Dog’s handlers, noted the significance of the week and the potential impact of the rivalry game, potentially working in favor of the Spartans.
"There's a lot of tradition," Foley said. "This could be a turning point for this week. This game is approached differently than any other game of the year. I see improvement in the football team, I think we got a shot, so if they keep improving, keep playing in the system, stay in their system, I think we can get it done."
For lifelong MSU fan Kevin Everson, who made the journey to East Lansing traveling from the South, he enjoyed the atmosphere around Spartan Statue for Sparty Watch, despite preparing to stand guard throughout the night in the cold.
"I love it when Spartans come together for a cause and just doing what's right and just showing some school spirit, even though it's cold out, even though the weather isn't all there," Everson said.
When asked about The Big Game this Saturday night, Everson said the only thing that matters to him is that the Spartans have a "great shot" to bring the Paul Bunyan trophy back to East Lansing.
"We have a home crowd, an amazing student section," Everson said. "Not only that, but if you look at the USC game, we lost by a lesser margin than Michigan, so, I think we have a great shot. Aiden Chiles, I still have a lot of faith in that guy, amazing athlete. Nick Marsh, even Jack Velling can get involved. If our defense can step up and make some plays, I think we have a great shot on Saturday."
Doug Kelly, a class of 1989 Education alumnus, described his time as an MSU student, learning about the duties and dedication that are required for Sparty Watch. He expressed his joy coming back to campus, being someone who has connections to both East Lansing and Ann Arbor.
"I actually work in Ann Arbor currently, so I have a lot of ties to both cities," Kelly said. "But when it comes to a night like this, or a week like this, it's 'Go Green' all the way. I need some bragging rights for the next year."
"When I was in school here, my roommate and best friend at the time was a marching band alum," Kelly said. "He would be here for all the games every Saturday, and I saw a lot of the duties, even back then in the 80s, were to help keep an eye on the Spartan Statue during this week and during this time. It seems like a lot of this responsibility has fallen upon the marching band over the years, and I just adore the marching band."
Kelly said Saturday’s matchup will be fiercely contested, with both teams giving everything they have and showing true grit in the heated rivalry. Both teams have errors to fix in their performance.
"It's gonna be a game that is for bragging rights, a game that could possibly save some coaches' jobs. It's gonna be close, I really believe that," Kelly said. "I don't think either team right now has been playing outstanding, but when it comes to a rivalry like this, there's no holding back, and everybody's gut and grit is in on it, and I'm really looking forward to this game."
Echoing the shared desire for more student involvement in upcoming years, Kelly expressed his gratitude to the individuals who chose to show up and stand in the cold for a cause such as Sparty Watch.
"I think that the thing that really makes the Sparty Watch wonderful is not only the eclectic group of people, but it's also the people who swing by. You don't have to come by for five hours and sit guard with the Spartan. You come by for an hour, you talk to people, you bring pizza, you bring snacks," Kelly said. "It just kind of shows these people that we appreciate whoever they are for being out here and guarding this beautiful monument to Michigan State."
