Spartan Hoopla: Top-Five Reasons to Choose Michigan State Over Michigan

It's no secret that Michigan State University and the University of Michigan harbor ill-will toward one another when it comes to athletic competition.

And why shouldn't they?

Michigan has routinely been one of the top football programs in the nation for decades.

Wolverine fans lovingly refer to their counterparts in East Lansing as "Little Brother," and a great deal of Michigan residents consider the maize and blue the superior in the realm of football.

But that is quickly changing.

Michigan State is known for basketball, and rightfully so. The Spartans, who are coached by Mr. March himself, Tom Izzo, have been the state's elite program for well over a decade.

Green and white.

Maize and blue.

East Lansing.

Ann Arbor.

When it comes to high-profile high school athletes' choice of schools, it should be clear.

Green and white are your colors.

Basketball hopefuls—How does a Final Four sound?

When it comes to basketball, Izzo knows his stuff.

The man is considered one of college basketball's greatest active coaches, and for good reason.

Check his resume, recruit.

Every one of Izzo's four-year players have been to the Promised Land.

What does that mean for you?

Well, if you stick around, you too, could achieve college hoops' greatest honor by playing on the game's biggest stage.

Izzo has X'd and O'd his way to six Final Fours in 12 years. In 2000, the Flintstones cut the nets down in Indianapolis as the NCAA's top unit.

In 2009, the Spartans were once again in the national title game, but fell 89-72 to North Carolina at Ford Field in Detroit.

In 2010, the Spartans lost 52-50 in the Final Four to Brad Stevens' Butler Bulldogs at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis.

And don't forget about Big Ten titles, as the Spartans are currently back-to-back champs of arguably the most competitive league in the nation.

That's something to think about.

Make that highlight reel, send it to Izzo, play AAU ball, and who knows—maybe you'll don that sharp Spartan logo on your shorts like Draymond Green.

And we don't really have to get into the tradition, do we?

Magic Johnson, Terry Furlow, Scott Skiles, Greg Kelser, Shawn Respert, The Flintsones and Kalin Lucas—get the picture?

Shannon Brown, Maurice Ager, Eric Snow and (insert your name)—the list goes on.

Football star—Wouldn't you like to participate in a heated rivalry?

There are a handful of Division I schools in the state of Michigan.

Michigan State and Michigan are the cream of the crop athletically.

One of the reasons that the Spartans are becoming respected in the world of college football is their recent success against the team from down the road.

Granted, Michigan owns the all-time series 67-30-5, but you could be a part of history in swinging the trend in Sparty's favor.

Everyone loves an underdog.

The Wolverines haven't topped the Spartans since 2007. Previous to the current losing streak, the last time Sparty beat Michigan in consecutive years was 1965-67.

Could 2011 spell three straight victories over Rich Rodriguez and his boys in Ann Arbor?

Rich Rodriguez—Enough said.

While every major program goes through its ups and downs, there have been more downs than ups for Michigan football with Rich Rodriguez at the helm.

Rodriguez was wildly successful while at West Virginia. He had some of the fastest, highest scoring offenses to grace the college gridiron.

And then he left the school that made him for greener, rather bluer, pastures in Ann Arbor.

Fast forward to 2010, and he has his employer's program in trouble. Recent allegations of "too much practice" have surfaced, which caused the NCAA to get involved—that's never good.

But Michigan has "punished" itself for the misunderstanding. Either way, the Wolverines have had the powers that be sniffing around.

Michigan State doesn't have the same luxury.

Couple that interesting bit of information with this—Rodriguez hasn't beat Michigan State.

And the Spartans are Michigan's perennial door-mat, right?

The Ohio State Buckeyes have eaten him alive, and worse yet, he hasn't been bowling.

Michigan is accustomed to winning at least eight games a year.

Under Rodriguez, it has won eight games, but it's taken two seasons to do so.

Does this make your decision any easier?

Picture Mark Dantonio impersonating Penn State's charismatic and legendary head football coach Joe Paterno's part in a Big Ten football commercial.

Are you with me?

"Come to Michigan Staaaate!"

History—Wouldn't it be great to be a part of it?

Michigan State was the first land-grant college in America. It was founded in 1855 as Michigan Agricultural College, and is a piece of Americana in itself.

Thank you, Morrill Act.

The Red Cedar River.

The beautiful foliage that adorns the landscape.

Post-World War II architecture, and "The Tower."

If you are a nature lover, or you just like to take a hike between classes, Michigan State is for you.

Don't forget that you would be able to call yourself a Spartan, who were respected warriors.

And, don't forget "The Strip."

Grand River has everything you could ever want. Great food, bars, bookstores, more bars, more food and media sources.

Here is another selling point: There are nearly 50,000 passionate fans that attend the university, that on any given night, pack athletic facilities to cheer you on to victory.

Sounds great so far, doesn't it.

You might be asking yourself "Where do I sign up for this?"

Fight Song—Ours is better than theirs.

The Spartan band boasts a reputation of excellence, just like the school that it represents.

Of course, Michigan has "Hail to the Victors," but you're sick of that tune, right?

How about a change of pace? How about one of the other most recognized fight songs in the nation?

Michigan State's Fight Song is top-notch. Wouldn't you like to hear the band play it over a dozen times while you're on your way to victory over the Wolverines?

On the banks of the Red Cedar,
There's a school that's known to all;
Its specialty is winning,
And those Spartans play good ball;
Spartan teams are never beaten,
All through the game they fight;
Fight for the only colors:
Green and White.

Go right through for MSU,
Watch the points keep growing,
Spartan teams are bound to win,
They're fighting with a vim!
Rah! Rah! Rah!
See their team is weakening,
We're going to win this game,
Fight! Fight! Rah! Team, Fight!
Victory for MSU!

Sounds like a winner, doesn't it?