In case you missed it, here's Mr. Trent’s comment about the in-state “rivalry” between Michigan State University and the University of Michigan. 

“I think it’s supposed to be a big deal. Being an in-state rivalry… The problem… is that we don’t really take them serious.  The countdown is cool and all, but we don’t take them serious as a program…  Yeah, you beat us the last couple years, but like I said, who hasn’t beat us?  So big whoop.”

I have a lot of problems with this statement, but this post isn’t about those.  What I’m arguing is that the State - Michigan rivalry is GREAT.

The in-state rivalry is great because everyone at each school has friends and family at the other school.  The game isn’t as much rooted in the "history of the rivalry," as is the OSU - Michigan rivalry (however quick Wikipedia research shows OSU and Michigan have played approximately 107 totals games, while State and Michigan have played a total of approximately 102), and the winner doesn’t get “national media bragging rights.”  What the winner gets out of the State - Michigan game is the ability to brag to your buddies at the opposing school.  That, to me, is wayyy better. 

And by the way, you don’t become a program overnight.  I believe State is on its way to becoming a program.  Every football program in the nation has had to make their way to the top.  Believe it or not Michigan fans, but at one point in history your football team wasn’t considered a program either.  Perhaps in a few decades State will be considered a program, and people will look back on this decade and say how this was the first decade since the 60's that those Spartans started looking like a program, and Coach Dantonio will be looked upon in the same way that the late and great Bo Schembechler is. 

Please excuse typos/spelling/and grammatical errors, I'm working!