Rivalry means everything for diehard Blue and Green fans

More than 110,000 fans screaming and singing "Hail to the Victors" in Michigan Stadium can be daunting for an opposing team, especially when 12 months of bragging rights are at stake.

Gloating plays a large part in the 100-year-old rivalry between Michigan and Michigan State and always has.

"It's a special event," said former Michigan offensive lineman Jim Brandstatter, the Wolverines' color analyst on WJR radio. "You wear your heart on your sleeve, and your heart is either green and white or maize and blue."

Tomorrow's game is important to both teams, and the fans will play a key part.

"Anytime you're in your home stadium, it's always a benefit," said Michigan quarterback Tom Brady. "You don't have to deal with the crowd noise, and the momentum swings are magnified so much more."

FILE PHOTO/Daily During the past 100 years, the rivalry between Michigan and Michigan State has turned into one of intensity and emotion. Inflammatory t-shirts and bumper stickers are common in both East Lansing and Ann Arbor this week.

Former Michigan football coach Bo Schembechler said the rivalry is more in the fans' mind during the game than the players.

"In every law office, in every school, and in every business office, you're either Michigan or Michigan State. There's a great, intense rivalry among the fans," Schembechler said.

When talking about a rivalry of this magnitude, a "normal" concept of fans may not always apply. Case in point - Johnny Spirit, the young Spartan who spends his days sitting in front of Sparty the Statue to ensure that no Michigan fan defaces it.

Although both the Diag's block "M" and the sidewalk in front of the C.C. Little Building were defaced by State fans, Spirit claims the Spartans have no reason to mar University property.

"There's really nothing at Michigan worth doing anything to," Spirit said. "There's really nothing here. We're all good sports, but sometimes people from Michigan will come up and try to be poor sports."

Tomorrow, fans will see Spirit cycling around Ann Arbor, painted green and cheering on his team.

"It takes me about six to seven hours to get dressed," Spirit said. "Then I go to the game. I'll be painted green and white from head to toe. My coined phrase is 'Sparty on.'"

Both sides can agree on their mutual dislike for each other.

"Michigan's got a serious problem when it comes to football games," recent Michigan State alumni Bryan Mauro said. "Their fans are horrible to Michigan State fans. They've got kind of big heads. Hopefully, we'll go in there and show them what's up."

Can you feel the love yet?

"It is big for the fans, because you're jawing back and forth before, during and after the game," Brady said.

To State fans, Michigan fans are sore winners and losers.

"When we lose, we're nice about it," Michigan State junior Kim Woolough said. "When they win, they kind of make such a big deal and are kind of mean to everybody. We like it when we win, but we don't rub it in their faces ..."

Of course, there are two sides to every story.

"They have to get used to a losing season, so

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