Michigan and Michigan State's Rivalry Has Turned to Outright Hate-Filled Feuding

By Kevin Harrish on October 22, 2018 at 1:33 pm
The hate is back!
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Michigan and Michigan State's rivalry has been pretty tame in recent years with even Jim Harbaugh and Mark Dantonio acknowledging that the game has been marked by mutual respect and sportsmanship.

That all changed in a hurry.

This weekend, the mutual respect and sportsmanship devolved into outright feuding and hatred, beginning when Michigan State performed its typical pregame ritual of walking with linked arms across the length of the field before beginning warmups.

The problem was, a few Michigan players had already taken the field to begin warmups of their own, and they weren't willing to budge for the Spartan pregame march, leading to a scuffle when the two sides met.

According to Michigan SID Dave Ablauf, a Michigan player was clotheslined, and another had his headphones ripped from his head. In retaliation, a very heated Devin Bush walked to the middle of the field and attempted to tear up the midfield logo with his cleats.

Eventually, a football game was played. The Wolverines won 21-7, and promptly celebrated right on top of the logo.

The feuding didn't die there, it carried on between the two coaches.

Both Dantonio and Harbaugh were asked about the incident following the game, and Harbaugh called Michigan State's antics "bush league," saying "apparently Coach Dantonio was 5 yards behind it all smiling."

"That's B.S.," Dantonio repsonded. "You heard me, that's B.S."

But Harbaugh doubled down on his stance during Monday's presser.

Harbaugh wasn't the only openly trashing the Spartans with his words after the game. Star defensive end Chase Winovich had some things to say about the in-state rivals.

And when he was criticized for his statements, he, like his head coach, doubled down.

Even Michigan's director of recruiting got in on the Sparty slander.

I think it's safe to say the bad blood is back, and that Michigan is heading towards absolutely insufferable once again, if it isn't already there.


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