- Heels, Spartans playing for school of the ’00s
Just to add to the pressure. - First thoughts on the Tarheels
Short rest may give us an advantage? - Izzo Is a Master of the Quick Turnaround
14-2 in the second games of NCAA Tournament weekends. - Lucas-Lawson, Walton-Ellington
Makes sense to me. Not sure either Lucas or Wlaton can stop Lawson; might as well try to neutralize Ellington. - Bracket Breakdown: Spartan Regimen
Mr. Gasaway: “Carolina would do well to forget that game, however. This is April, and State just keeps getting better with every game they play.” - UNC’s Outstanding Help Defense Against Villanova
Our help defense has been alright, too. - End will come Monday for fairy tale that never was
File under “rain on parade.” - Michigan State’s Austin Thornton balances playing for Final Four team with parenthood
In case Mrs. SW is reading the blog today.
Coffee talk question of massive cosmic proportions (and yes, I realize, “massive cosmic” may be redundant): For the last two games, I’ve worn the same green Nike dri-fit shirt with a block S on it (along with exactly the same white long sleeve shirt underneath, blue jeans, belt, socks, shoes, and underwear [washed between wearings, of course--I'm not (quite) that crazy]). As you’re aware, the game results associated with this clothing combination have been very encouraging. I feel this must now be my go-to shirt from a it’s-not-superstition-if-it’s-working standpoint.
BUT, MSU is now asking all its fans to wear white to tomorrow night’s game. So what do I do? Put the emphasis on solidarity with my Spartan brethren–which I value highly? Or stick to the superstition thing? I’m leaning toward door number 2, as changing course now could lead to years of regret should the team lose. But I will definitely consider reader input as I get dressed tomorrow morning.
Jeebus, how can you even ask? The superstition thing of course. I’ve been wearing the same shirt rotation for each weekend and plan to for tomorrow. Also, I’ve been keeping with the same night-time t-shirt rotation. Last night was the Celtic FC three in a row shirt, tonight is the MSU Rowing t-shirt. I also wear a shirt of the primary color of the defeated opponent in the first game on the interval day. Works for me.
From what I have seen, many Spartan fans are arguing that white should be forgone because UNC will be wearing the home white uniforms. I don’t buy that, but I’m just pointing out there will still be plenty of green there.
I think the thing that’s most key about who Walton gets put on is that Lawson is simply too fast for him.
Green! Superstition is obviously the way to go… if nothing else, do you want to feel like it was your fault if the game goes poorly? I’m crazy enough to have felt that way before (I accidentally wore purple the day of the Northwestern loss… don’t throw anything at me… and despite changing to watch the game, I felt so guilty), and recommend against it!
Adding to what NorthernSparty said, I have changed shirts (MSU ones even) multiple times this year to try and bring good luck. I credit at least one of my shirts with helping start the comeback win @ Ohio State.
I also have on of those plush Spartan helmets which has served as a comeback cap in the tournament so far.
Definitely go with the superstition. You have white sleeves so the solidarity is still there.
I have worn the same MSU white tee under a gray MSU basketball tee, under an old school #15 jersey for every game this season. Only washed following a loss. So far so good.
I did miss one game, but it was the minnesota big 10 tourney game, which we won, so I didn’t feel too bad. The superstition also eased the pain from the loss to OSU in the big 10 tourney. They needed to be washed before the NCAA’s started and that gave me the reason to do it.
It’s reassuring to me that you people are every bit as insane as I am.
Of course, I do take it a step further, by enforcing my no-outfit-switching policy on my wife and children. My older son refuses to wash his #11 MSU jersey between games because it has Drew Neitzel’s autograph on it and he doesn’t want it to wear off.
agreed with everyone else, I’ll be wearing my gray sweatshirt (at least a white hat) the white hat hasn’t seen us lose yet this year (forgot to wear it to the Penn State game) and the gray sweatshirt has been worn every tourney game since Bob Morris.
Of course where I’ll be sitting, I don’t think my shirt will show up on tv, even if it’s neon.
Go Green!!!
Same MSU nike sweatshirt, same MSU Nike Elite shirt, same jeans, same socks, same green Air Max. No, I am not sponsored by Nike.
Washing them right now to get ready for tomorrow night.
Same MSU green sweatshirt and hat for every tournament game. Why mess with a good thing?
There’s nothing wrong with a little superstition in sports fandom. Sure, there’s absolutely no rational basis for it, but who cares?
It seems to me you can have it both ways. Wear the green dri-fit shirt under the white long sleeve shirt. That way, you are showing solidarity with your fellow spartans, but you are not messing with the clothing superstition at all. Makes sense to me. BTW, I am predicting a 72-67 MSU win tomorrow. It will be one for the ages!
Are you kidding me? I’ve worn the same exact articles of clothing (white long-sleeve polo, MSU green fleece vest, jcrew jeans, black shoes) for all five tournament games — you couldn’t pay me all the money in the world to wear something different now. If you’re that concerned about conforming with the whiteout, sacrifice your lucky shirt by putting it through a couple bleach cycles. But, man, don’t change your shirt!!
I was thinking just like Beefman. You can start off with solidarity, but if in the early minutes you find the power of your shirt is being weakened by having soething over it, by all means, quickly take the white shirt off before it’s too late.
I haven’t worn the same clothes for the tourney game, though my MSU hoodie has made several appearances.
The important thing is that my MSU football jersey stay in the closet. I wore it the day of one MSU basketball game this year, at Purdue. Never again.
OK, OK. I’ll stick with what’s got me/us here. It’s clearly my only choice.
In a (severe) emergency, I’ll pull the green shirt off and join the White Out.
(And I’m fairly skeptical about whether the White Out will really materialize. Hard to make it work at the Breslin Center with 90% season ticket holders, let alone with 50,000 less tuned-in fans at Ford Field.)
I prefer “intense” to “insane.” It sounds better.
GO GREEN!
Insane? Proper attire is important.
I will be teaching a college class tomorrow in Davis, CA. I plan to wear two MSU t-shirts and two MSU sweatshirts to start class. I will periodically complain about how warm the building is and peel off the layers until I’m down to the math@msu shirt that the math department gave me when I graduated.
And kudos to NorthernSparty–I also prefer “intense”.
I’m not one that goes in for the idea that what I (a lowly fan) wears on game day has any effect on the outcome of a sporting event, but I do think a green-out would be more appropriate since we’re in our visitor unis. I say go with what you are comfortable wearing – if that means being a green dot in a sea of white so be it. As Kermit says – it’s not easy being green, but you gotta be who you gotta be.