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Mike Sainristil: 'Grit' defines MSU rivalry, and Michigan has a long memory  – 'The Harbaughs remember'

Anthony Broomeby:Anthony Broome•10/17/23•

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The Michigan Wolverines will renew their rivalry with the Michigan State Spartans on Saturday night in East Lansing, the site of the team’s last loss in conference play back in 2021. While the two programs have been on opposite trajectories since it’s still a contest that plays a part in defining the season.

It comes down to the team that typically wants it more, and Michigan wants to make sure they are the group that walks out with the win and do it with grit. Graduate captain Mike Sainristil will see to it that the tone is set.

“I think that game is just or this game is a game of the team that’s gonna go out there and just be the grittiest,” Sainristil said. “Ultimately, the team is going to do what it takes to come out victorious. Other than the fact that it’s in-state, we’re treating it just like another football game.”

Michigan hasn’t won in East Lansing since 2018 and let a winnable game slip away in 2021. The postgame attacks in the tunnel last year in Ann Arbor are also in the past, but the Wolverines will always keep what’s taken place in this rivalry in the back of their minds.

“We’re not worried about that. What happened, happened. All we can do is just go out there Saturday and handle our business… the right way,” Sainristil said.

“Coach Harbaugh says, a faithful man forgives, a smart man forgets, the Harbaughs remember. We remember what happened last year in the tunnel, we remember what happened in 2021. But none of that matters on Saturday. All we can do is just focus on where we are right now in this moment and what we can do to be the best team on Saturday.”

Michigan will have a bye week after Saturday’s game but do not expect anyone to coast through to a scheduled break in the season. This is a trophy game for the Wolverines, and they will continue to take things one day at a time.

“We don’t care about the bye week next week,” Sainristil said. “What we want to do is be able to have a great game this week. That way we could go into the bye week going in the right direction. Just being where our feet are focusing on today.

“We had practice today. How can we get better tomorrow? And then get better Thursday, Friday. And then, go out and play a great game on Saturday.”

Saturday’s game in East Lansing kicks off at 7:30 p.m. ET and will be broadcast nationally via NBC. The Wolverines opened as 24-point favorites over the the rival Spartans.

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