It’s Good Even If You’re Not a Michigan Sports Fan
Michigan State’s fight song seriously sounds like it’d fit as a communist national anthem. I’d never really paid any attention to it because a) I hate Michigan State and II) I hate University of Michigan sports (with the exception of hockey). However, the husband and I played the State fight song after he had sent me a video of a baby crying whenever the U-M fight song was played. I realized that I didn’t know what State’s fight song is, and I think I know why—I probably always thought it was a clip from China or Cuba whenever any snippets were played on the news (author’s note: IP’s the one who first voiced the communist-Michigan State link, and I will be forever grateful to him for this). Michigan’s is far superior even if I’m not a sports fan (and hey, we’re still the leaders and the best when it comes to academics).
And given yesterday’s events (Michigan win against Notre Dame; MSU loss against Central Michigan; Ohio State loss against USC) and given all the snarky anti-Michigan stuff I’ve seen for the past year and given the fact that Staters are immediately getting grouchy and shouting “Appalachian State!” (wasn’t that two years ago? and believe me, no one was more amused than I when it first happened), I just have to say that yesterday brought a small smile to even this anti-Athletics heart. Sure, I think the money spent on football (housing them in the Sheraton before the start of the school year? c’mon) should be spent on getting better and/or updating resources, students, faculty, staff and postdocs, but yesterday made me chuckle. Oh it did indeed.
I agree MSU’s song would have been a big hit in 1951 Russia – its popularity probably somewhere between the rousing “We Must Increase Agricultural Production Next Year To Meet The Five-Year Quota” and the maudlin “Trotskyite Kulaks Should Immediately Be Sent To The Gulag.”
“Hail To The Victors” is a study in elegance and subtlety, comparatively. But that’s not surprising.
IP, my beloved husband, you are nothing short of brilliant. :)
aw shucks.
You are an idiot! The money spent ON Michigan football is FROM Michigan football. You have no idea how much revenue the football season brings in. It sends thousands of dollars towards academics! Get your facts right.