By Scott Robarge: Michigan will be hosting Michigan State at 3:30PM Saturday afternoon October 20th at the Big House.
This will be the 105th time the two teams have met with Michigan currently leading the rivalry with 67 wins, 32 losses and 5 ties. The two teams first met in 1898 when Michigan shutout the Michigan Agricultural College (now Michigan State University) 38-0, and they’ve met every year since with the exception of 1943 and 1944 due to World War II. Since 1953 they’ve battled for the Paul Bunyan Trophy, a four-foot-high wooden statue named after the mythical giant lumberjack Paul Bunyan, a reflection of the state’s proud history as a major lumber producing State.
While the matchup is always one of the most highly anticipated games of the year, this year is especially meaningful to Michigan players and fans alike. November 3, 2007 was the last time a Michigan team handed the Spartans a loss. It was also the year Mike Hart made his now famous “little brother”comment, which in turn has been a bit of curse that has coincided with four consecutive years of losses to their in-state rivals. Meaning there isn’t a player on the Michigan roster that has experienced a win against the Spartans, and for some including Denard “Shoelace” Robinson, this will be their last chance to get a win against their instate rival. This year the two will be back in Michigan stadium where we can expect a crowd that easily surpasses the official capacity of109,901. With the two campuses a mere 60 miles apart, Ann Arbor will be a sea of Maize and Blue and Green and White with Sparty showing up in force.
If you plan to make the trip to Ann Arbor and don’t have a ticket, StubHub has them starting at $129. Not the cheapest way to spend your Saturday afternoon, but regardless if you’re a Michigan or Michigan State fan, it‘ll be exciting one. For those of you driving to the game and in need a place to park, you may want to try Park n Party – http://www.parknparty.com/?module=Home. As always, be safe and don’t drink and drive.
About Scott Robarge
Scott Robarge is a graduate of the University of Michigan. Follow Scott Robarge on Twitter www.twitter.com/scottrobarge.
About Scott Robarge
