ND/MSU - Will I survive?

[WakeUpEchoes]

Just got two tickets to ND/MSU this Saturday. Sitting in section 106 (says its visiting section). Most of people I know going are die-hard Sparties and will refuse to acknowledge me and my buddy's presence (also a fellow IE poster). Anyone else going to the game? Tailgates? Should I (hypothetically speaking) pack heat?

 

[Veer option]

You may get stabbed a little, but as long as they dont hit vital organs you will be fine.

 

[Ndaccountant]

Last game I went to at MSU I got spit on and sworn at.

BTW, the smoke stack is gone? Damn shame. It reminded everyone of what a dump MSU was/is.

 

[notredomer23]

It's pretty much Compton, CA at MSU when they play night games against ND

edit: never been. just felt like putting some fear out there

 

[connor_in]

Pack heat...no?

While I agree the attitude is different for a night vs afternoon game (MSU parties pretty well and the night game just means they have had more to drink), what I have found to be very friendly in the afternoon, at night there are more pockets of hightened attitude...but not Compton, CA during the riots kind of demeanor...they are not Walmart Wolverines)

You know it really is kinda wild, I know scUM is the more traditional rivalry, but it seems like for at least the past decade, the games between ND and MSU are games that would be best described using Keith Jackson adjectives! Wild, tough, hard hitting smash mouth kinda games...more enjoyable than the UM games have been (at least to me from a purely gameday football point of view)

 

[Spartan96]

Last game I went to at MSU I got spit on and sworn at.

BTW, the smoke stack is gone? Damn shame. It reminded everyone of what a dump MSU was/is.

Sorry to hear that....I guess there are always bad apples whichever campus you go - and I sort of resent the dump comment as an alum but this is your message board so I won't complaint too much

To the OP, you should be fine tailgating - you'll see lots of ND and State fans together. Obviously 7 hours of drinking does bring the edge out a bit.

 

[nlroma1o]

East Lansing is a blast. I ve always had a ton of fun up there for football games and have never had any problems going to watch the Irish play at Spartan stadium....

I can't say the same for my visits to the ann arbor... Walked out of the stadium in 2009 with a black eye. Totally worth it though

 

[pumpdog20]

It was in South Bend mind you, but I once had a MSU fan wait for me after the game because he knew I left my headlights on. He gave me a jump start.

So, there'll probably be at the very least one nice MSU fan for you.

 

[johnsben]

I'm an ND fan living in Lansing and am going to the game with some of my family (also ND fans). I went to the game in 2008, which was a day game, and had a good experience. I've heard it gets pretty rough during night games but I think MSU has toned down some over the years. Hope you have a good experience.

 

[WakeUpEchoes]

Pack heat...no?

While I agree the attitude is different for a night vs afternoon game (MSU parties pretty well and the night game just means they have had more to drink), what I have found to be very friendly in the afternoon, at night there are more pockets of hightened attitude...but not Compton, CA during the riots kind of demeanor...they are not Walmart Wolverines)

You know it really is kinda wild, I know scUM is the more traditional rivalry, but it seems like for at least the past decade, the games between ND and MSU are games that would be best described using Keith Jackson adjectives! Wild, tough, hard hitting smash mouth kinda games...more enjoyable than the UM games have been (at least to me from a purely gameday football point of view)

Agreed. As a Umich alum and grad student (yet loyal ND fan entire life), the ND/MSU game has definitely become more competitive, thus just as heated. I went last year for MSU/ND in South Bend, but have never been to East Lansing for a game. Been to Cbus plenty of times and never once have I had an enjoyable experience in interactions with buckeyes. Didn't know if the environment at MSU would be similar, but guess I wll find out, and hopefully after an ND win.

 

[Buster Bluth]

BTW, the smoke stack is gone? Damn shame. It reminded everyone of what a dump MSU was/is.

If smoke stacks = dump then we are quite the hypocrites.

 

[Ndaccountant]

If smoke stacks = dump then we are quite the hypocrites.

difference is that one is off in the distance and one was right next door.....

besides, most campuses do have a smokestack and I realize that. I have a have genuine disliking for MSU since my only two trips to MSU (both night games) have been horrible due to the fact that I treated with so much hatred. I stand by the notion that big 10 fans are the worst. I remember going to the UT/ND game in knoxville when TW's team knocked out Ainge. I expected that to be a horrible experience, but they were very nice and even offered praise on ND for the game. I have been to games such as UGA / Ten, Fla/UGA, Ten / Bama, LSU/ND (road and home), LSU / Ten, Mich/ND (road and home), PSU/ND (road and home), and many others. Big Ten fans should be ashamed of how they treat visitors. The southern schools (Texas A&M I find to have the most friendly fans) do it right.

 

[Buster Bluth]

haha I was mostly kidding.

Besides, good ol' Ohio Stadium (whose fans don't deserve to enter such an awesome stadium) was built, and remains, next to a power plant.

 

[loomis41973]

Been to EL many times.....never again.
Rough place to see a night game as a visiting fan. Seen many spit on, things thrown at them and worse. Keep your wits about you and don't escalate anything. Have fun

 

[IrishDan]

Stadium View

Stadium View

Setting aside getting "hazed" by the home team fans - is the visiting section a decent viewpoint for the game? Or, is it worth sitting in different seats?

 

[Ndaccountant]

Setting aside getting "hazed" by the home team fans - is the visiting section a decent viewpoint for the game? Or, is it worth sitting in different seats?

Both times I have gone I have been in the bottom half of the stadium, behind where the band sits. The seats and view were good.

 

[IrishinTN]

It was in South Bend mind you, but I once had a MSU fan wait for me after the game because he knew I left my headlights on. He gave me a jump start.

So, there'll probably be at the very least one nice MSU fan for you.

I can guarantee a Michigan fan would never do that because they wouldn't know how.

 

[We_Are_ND]

AHHH! I am going to the game with the OP. I am nervous because as many have said it's a night game and the good ol' booze will be involved even longer. I am a drinker but I will not let it cause any problems. I hope it doesn't for MSU fans either.

I am just worried because I cheer really REALLY loud for ND when something good happens (who wouldn't right?) Just worried some Sparty fans would take it the wrong way. I am so excited/nervous for this game.

 

[Emcee77]

In my experience Sparty fans are very friendly. I have had some really great times taigating at MSU.

 

[Spartan96]

In my experience Sparty fans are very friendly. I have had some really great times taigating at MSU.

This. All day! To be honest some of the stories I've read on here.....vultures of MSU fans surrounding 90 year old great grandmothers and taunting them!! Definitely some tall tales going on that are passed around and around.

Yes, it's a tough, loud atmosphere in Spartan Stadium. Yes, MSU fans like to drink and have a good time tailgating beforehand. There are always bad apples everywhere you go though.

 

[Spartan96]

AHHH! I am going to the game with the OP. I am nervous because as many have said it's a night game and the good ol' booze will be involved even longer. I am a drinker but I will not let it cause any problems. I hope it doesn't for MSU fans either.

I am just worried because I cheer really REALLY loud for ND when something good happens (who wouldn't right?) Just worried some Sparty fans would take it the wrong way. I am so excited/nervous for this game.

Stand up and cheer your *** off! Listen, you may get harassed for standing and cheering....but only because you are standing and bothering the blue hairs around you. I get it as well from our own fans. 8PM Spartan Stadium games are a really cool experience....so I say cheer away.

 

[Irish Insanity]

Sparty fans aren't usually to bad, but remember this is a 8:00 game and they'll be tailgating and drinking all day. Not the normal 12 or 3 start.

 

[We_Are_ND]

Stand up and cheer your *** off! Listen, you may get harassed for standing and cheering....but only because you are standing and bothering the blue hairs around you. I get it as well from our own fans. 8PM Spartan Stadium games are a really cool experience....so I say cheer away.

You going to the game??

 

[gkIrish]

You going to the game??

I'll be there

 

[MPClinton22]

Does anyone have any good info on places to tailgate up at MSU? A bunch of friends and I are heading up there and want to tailgate the day away, but weren't sure where we can park without needing a special permit.

 

[We_Are_ND]

We are in section 106!!!! CHYEEEEAHHH!!!