Harlon Barnett shares how he approaches rivalry game amid struggles

In a rivalry, you always want to catch your competition when they’re down. No. 2 Michigan better tread carefully in East Lansing, though, as Harlon Barnett, if nothing else, expects a better approach from the Spartans.

Barnett addressed Michigan State’s rivalry with the Wolverines to open his press conference on Monday. He said seeing them as their opponent isn’t going to change their overall goal of improving. However, he does think it will give his team the right motivation to attack this week in order to be at their best on Saturday evening.

“You always are just trying to get better no matter what – a rivalry game or not,” Barnett said. “Definitely, it can bring some more focus to it, though. We talked about having great attention to detail. But, as far as if it’s Michigan or not, Michigan or what have you? We just need to start playing better and now it’s about finishing. That’s our next step.”

“We’ve got to finish and we’re looking forward to doing that this weekend,” said Barnett.

Michigan State finds itself in quite the rut heading into the latest edition of this series. Overall, the Spartans have lost four straight with three coming in Big Ten play and the fourth being against another Top-10 team in Washington. In the rivalry itself, MSU also lost 29-7 in Ann Arbor a season ago to snap a two-game winning streak.

Still, none of that matters in a contest. When you play your foe for the Paul Bunyan Trophy, all of that goes out the window. That’s why, although amidst a disappointing stretch, Barnett sees this as a big week to get the most from his team considering the attention that he expects them to have.

Barnett reveals when Michigan rivalry became ‘personal’ for him

We have seen how much the Michigan–Michigan State rivalry means in years past. The Spartans may be fighting an uphill battle heading into the 2023 matchup but it still means something to Harlon Barnett.

He might be from the state of Ohio but Barnett quickly learned about the rivalry during his days as a Michigan State player. He was asked when the game became personal to him and it was before he ever stepped foot on campus.

While Barnett did not have the best record against Michigan as a player — dropping three of four matchups — he still loves the intensity of the game.

“He got me fired up,” Barnett said about his former head coach in George Perles. “I’ve been that way ever since 1985, man. So, it is what it is.”

Where Barnett has really seen the rivalry over the years is on the recruiting trail. When going after in-state players, everyone has a preference — Maize and Blue or Green & White. Barnett can tell where Michigan State stands based on their childhood fandom.

“I think it’s great for the state of Michigan,” Barnett said. “I really do. Because, in this state, you grew up one way or the other. So whenever I got out recruiting in the state, I say ‘Who you grew up rooting for?’. Because they’re going to tell you one or the other. You’re going to get one or the other and you kind of know where they stand.”