...I give my perspective on this year's "Game of the Century!"

Hmmmm.....my Michigan grad brother told me that my next post should be a Sparty fan's perspective on the UM-OSU "Game of the Century." So here goes....

Well, it's about 2 hours till kick-off and I haven't really thought too hard about the game except to consider the hype. Is this game over-hyped? Hyped just right? Only thing I really know is that it hasn't been UNDER-hyped.....

So, my take....today's game is this year's "Game of the Century." I mean, isn't there one every year?

But, given more thought....it IS Michigan v. Ohio State, right? This is one of the biggest (the biggest?) rivalries in college football...maybe in sports. And the two teams ARE ranked #1 and #2. AND both teams are undefeated. Yep, this is definitely a HUGE game! Only problem....it isn't a national championship game. It's really too bad this game isn't being held in January! As a football fan and a Big Ten fan and a midwesterner.....HELL NO it isn't over-hyped. As a Spartan fan? Is it still football season? Have we found our next coach who'll lead us UP to mediocrity yet?

The last two football seasons have left me cold and bitter. Michigan State has squandered talent and have actually gotten worse in each season. I have tried very hard not to let this bitterness turn to envy of the maize and blue or the scarlet and grey football programs. I mean I really dislike both teams (respect the programs...how can you not?)....and if they BOTH could lose this game, I wouldn't mind in the least. Sorry, that was the envy talking.

So really, after all this rambling of mine and reading and re-reading what I have typed....and deleting and re-typing....I just can't grasp the gravity of this game. I know both my brother's are probably nervous as Hell right now. They are both sad over the passing of Bo. They'll both be glued to their respective TVs in a few hours. Man, I want to feel that during football season. It's been way too long since I've been able to get THAT excited about a football game. Have I EVER gotten THAT excited? I'm not a big enough basketball fan to use the tired MSU mantra, "Wait 'till basketball season!"

So, back to the game. Who do I want to win? Who do I think will win? Do I care who wins? These are difficult questions to answer as a Sparty fan. One the one hand, if I say I'm rooting for OSU, my brothers will call "Sour grapes!" One the other hand, if I say Michigan, my Sparty friends will cry, "Traitor!" If I decide that I won't root for a winner, only a good, close game, then I really won't be able to get into the game as much as a game of this magnitude really deserves. What to do? What to do? Should I flip a coin?

I think today I'm going with my arch-enemy....today I'm going to root for Michigan. Traitor or not, I'm pulling for Michigan. I can't believe I typed it, but I'm gonna root for Michigan. After all, aren't they the sentimental favorites now? Aren't they the underdogs? And after the sad news of Bo's passing, doesn't it just seem right?

RIP Bo....you will be missed! Go Blue! (but only today)