Michigan football players eager for shot at MSU: 'We can't let bull**** happen'
Michigan football has to wait two weeks for a shot at rival Michigan State, but players are eager to rest up during the bye and make another rivalry game statement. There is a little bit of extra juice for this game in Ann Arbor despite MSU’s 3-4 start to the season.
These two teams met as top-10 opponents in 2021, but Michigan State’s struggles have taken a bit of shine off of the contest from a national buzz perspective. The facts are facts, though. The Wolverines are 0-2 against MSU head coach Mel Tucker and feel they let opportunities slip away over the last two years.
“I remember that we weren’t as good in [run defense] as we are this year,” graduate defensive back Gemon Green said on Tuesday. “No. 9 from Michigan State last year [Kenneth Walker], he was a very good back. I don’t think they have that this year. I feel that we’re going to do a lot better this year than in previous years in stopping the run.”
Michigan lost 27-24 in 2020 and blew a 16-point lead in last year’s 37-33 loss in East Lansing. That is a source of frustration and serves as extra motivation.
“Just not getting the win [hurts the most,” Green said. “We were always in the position. We never got beat by more than 10 points. Last year, we should have blown them out. For them to come back and beat us, that was a big emphasis for us and that’s not going to happen again.”
Michigan does not want to repeat quiet bus ride from 2021
Michigan players had to sit in their failure on a bus ride back to Ann Arbor after last year’s loss. Nobody wants that feeling again. Senior guard Trevor Keegan has not stopped thinking about it.
“Ever since we lost last year [I’ve been thinking about it],” Keegan said. “That bus ride home was… it sucked. I have been thinking about it ever since. It still pisses me off. We are going to do everything we can to prepare for this game. We have got the bye week to get healthy. We’ll be ready to roll.”
Top 10
- 1
Ryan Day
Buyout revealed from new contract
- 2
UNC president
Belichick hire fall out
- 3
'I'm 1-0 vs. PETA'
La. Gov. defends LSU live tiger
- 4
2025 CFB odds
Key game point spreads
- 5
Marshall Faulk
Deion Sanders adds HOFer to staff
Get the On3 Top 10 to your inbox every morning
By clicking "Subscribe to Newsletter", I agree to On3's Privacy Notice, Terms, and use of my personal information described therein.
Junior wide receiver Roman Wilson recalls a quiet ride home that day. Their inability to close out the Spartans was the biggest source of frustration. There was nothing that needed to be said.
“I remember sitting all the way in the back of the bus with Erick All and we did not say one word,” Wilson said. “We got back to Schembechler Hall, and went home. Did not say one word. We all knew what we did. We know what we have to do this year and we have just been waiting for that moment.”
This year, Michigan should be a 3-score favorite when the lines are released next week. The Wolverines know they are the better team. They felt they were the last two years. Now, the scoreboard needs to reflect that.
“We know that we are the better team and we have got to go out there and prove it,” Wilson said. “We just can’t let bullshit happen. Excuse my language, but that’s what was happening. We know that we have to play better.”
The Week 8 contest against the Spartans will be a night game at Michigan Stadium. Kickoff is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. on Oct. 29 with the broadcast on ABC.
