There has been an ongoing debate between Milford High School students for years on the topic of the superior college, University of Michigan or Michigan State University. Whenever one team achieves something of significance, in any sport, it will not go unmentioned among students. It’s an argument that has ended friendships and built friendships, but either way has caused anger to anyone who is a fan of either. When it comes to academics, any unbiased fan of either school would say Michigan has the advantage, which is an argument Wolverine fans will always have. But in sports, it’s a toss-up and the argument can be changed for a whole year because of one game.
A large portion of Milford students attend Michigan State after High School, but there is no doubt Michigan is also popular. With the acceptance rates, Michigan at 37% and State at 71%, it only makes sense. There a plenty of students who could attend both but choose one simply because of their fan hood such as long-time Spartan fan Connor Walters, who will be attending MSU next year, said “I was born and raised a State fan, and nothing is going to change that.” Walters has been a huge State fan in football and basketball, and also some hockey. He always gets angry towards Wolverine fans because he believes they are all arrogant and think they are the best.
Although Michigan fans are usually arrogant about their school, some believe they have right to be. In football, they have the most wins among any school in the nation, while they are a top ranked team in basketball. Along with academics, history is another topic Michigan fans bring up in any debate. History usually goes to Michigan in football, but recently, basketball is another story. State has two national championship wins, compared to U of M’s one, but the maize and blue has taken place in more championships. The overall record between the two is lead by Michigan, 94-76. Recently, it is all Sparty, there is no arguing that Tom Izzo is one of the best, if not the best basketball coach in the NCAA, as throughout a high school student’s lifetime, the Spartans have dominated basketball in the state of Michigan. The Spartans have achieved tournament berth every year since 1998, including six final four appearances. Michigan fans and any unbiased MSU fans would admit that with the current teams and the recent/present recruiting classes, Michigan has a very bright future ahead of them. These two teams could put on an impressive rivalry as two top basketball teams in the nation for years to come.
Future Wolverine Ryan Garvey states his argument of the two schools by saying academics is not even close, and the history of the school gives another blow to State fan’s arguments. Garvey has been a Michigan fan his whole life, his father graduated from there and raised Ryan as a big fan. “I grew up watching both teams, but I couldn’t help but love the passion and the intensity of Michigan and their fans” Garvey said. When asked about Michigan’s 2013 basketball team, all Ryan had to say was “just wait until March, when we show who the better team really is.” He doesn’t like the fact that Spartan fans will brag about a simple win, and he said he gets annoyed on how they do one good thing and think they are the best team in the World.
Most people think you have to pick one team or the other, but for some it’s both. Milford teacher David Gilbert is a fan of both teams. Gilbert is a big basketball fan, and has always loved watching Spartan basketball, but is also a fan of Michigan because of their legacy. Unlike most fans, Gilbert is neutral on the topic. He will always cheer for Michigan State over Michigan, but he doesn’t hate Michigan like most fans, he will root for them in any game not against State.
This debate can and will go on for many more years at Milford High School, and will always heat up a conversation between rival fans. The argument can go either way, and it always will. Whenever these two teams play, no matter the sport, it will always be talked about by both fans before, and by the winning team after.