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.
Michigan celebrates right on the logo pic.twitter.com/YwpqoONGky
— Max Marcovitch (@Max_Marcovitch) October 20, 2018
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 on MSU pregame: "That had all the earmarkings and evidence of an orchestrated stormtrooper march."
— Kyle Rowland (@KyleRowland) October 22, 2018
Jim Harbaugh pulled out a piece of paper to quote Mark Dantonio today.
— Brad Galli (@BradGalli) October 22, 2018
"I'll go one step further and use Coach Dantonio's words from a few years back. 'It's not a product of the team, but their program.'" pic.twitter.com/2px64V2dPV
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.
Sometimes your little brother starts acting up, and you just gotta put them in place. - Chase Winovich on FOX after Michigan beat MSU. pic.twitter.com/3DtCxvjOAy
— Brad Galli (@BradGalli) October 20, 2018
And when he was criticized for his statements, he, like his head coach, doubled down.
You know it's a rivalry when you're asking newspaper reporters who cover the other team to hold Ls for you. pic.twitter.com/PcbaWi9ngP
— Eleven Warriors (@11W) October 20, 2018
Even Michigan's director of recruiting got in on the Sparty slander.
This is just in...Michigan States pregame walk was 6 yards longer than what they had in the game #GoBlue #Winningest @_Dbush11 pic.twitter.com/caQV5PRwPc
— Matt Dudek (@Thee_Matty_D) October 20, 2018
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.
