Michigan State Football: 8 Reasons Why East Lansing Has the Best Game Day

Expectations for Mark Dantonio's Michigan State squad are as high as they've ever been heading into 2011. Those expectations should make for a high-energy, boisterous game day atmosphere.

It's a stretch to say that the game day experience in East Lansing can match that of Ann Arbor's, but if current trends continue, that may just be the outcome.

Follow along as we count down eight reasons why East Lansing has the best game day atmosphere.

8. The Co-Eds

Michigan State University is known for having some of the most attractive females in the Big Ten. 

Heck, if the newly realigned Big Ten Championship was determined by hottest co-eds, Michigan State would always be in the running.

Those girls definitely provide a boost to the game day atmosphere.

7. The Student Body

There's no argument that Wisconsin has the best student body in the Big Ten, but Michigan State isn't far behind. The students are extremely passionate about their Spartans, especially during football season.

Putting a great team on the field will only energize those students and provide a buzz around campus on game day.

6. The Mascot

Perhaps one of the most well known mascots in the nation, Sparty has always captured the hearts of the Michigan State fan base. He's so popular that some fans often dress up as Sparty for home as well as away games.

The best part about Sparty is his ability to pump up a crowd. It's second to none.

He's not afraid of other mascots, either.

5. The New Big Ten Conference

The landscape of college football transitioned in a large way last summer.

The Pac-10 almost became the Pac-16, but settled for twelve.

The Big Ten was also part of that change, adding its 12th member in the Nebraska Cornhuskers. That allowed for the conference to split into two divisions as well as to have a championship game.

Michigan State fans are going to be cheering even harder for the Spartans this season with a shot at the Big Ten Championship game on the line.

4. The Michigan State University Spartan Marching Band

Michigan State's marching band is one of the most storied in the nation, having been formed as a 10-member group in 1870. That number has grown to over 300 today.

The halftime performances the band puts on are a work of art and are always met with an ear-splitting round of applause.

3. The City of East Lansing

East Lansing is one of the best college towns in America. There's no argument about that.

People come far and wide to visit East Lansing because it is the home to Michigan State University.

2. Spartan Stadium

Spartan Stadium is one of the finest facilities in the Big Ten Conference. The official capacity is 75,005, but has often held more than 80,000.

ESPN College GameDay's Lee Corso has described Spartan Stadium as a snake pit in years past.

1. Rivalries

Michigan State's rivalry with the University of Michigan Wolverines always grabs the attention of the nation the weekend the two teams meet. It is a fierce rivalry that never fails to live up to the expectations.

Another Spartan rivalry worth mentioning is that with Notre Dame. Last season's match-up with the Fighting Irish was one of the most exciting games in college football, ending on a successful fake field goal pass for the Spartans.

Head coach Mark Dantonio suffered a heart attack before the call, but it goes to show that he will risk it all to get a victory.