Michigan State Football: 5 excuses used by Michigan fans to explain loss to Spartans

Oct 17, 2015; Ann Arbor, MI, USA; Michigan Wolverines fan reacts at the end of the game against the Michigan State Spartans at Michigan Stadium. Michigan State 27-23. Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports

If you’re friends with any Michigan fans, this past week had to have been brutal on your eardrums. Sure, these people are probably tolerable for 51 weeks out of the year, but during Michigan State vs Michigan week, it’s personal.

Friends become enemies, neighbors become strangers and family becomes foreign. Michigan week is a huge deal for anyone who has followed Michigan State football — especially in recent years.

Ever since the beginning of the series history between the two in-state rivals, the Wolverines have dominated, winning 68 games to the Spartans’ 35. Albeit, the series is much closer since 1950 as the games before that year were played mostly in Ann Arbor — about 90 percent of them — and that’s where about half the Wolverines’ all-time wins have originated from.

This past week, though, the No. 7 Spartans traveled to Ann Arbor once again to take on “big brother” and escaped with a miracle win on a botched punt.

As we could have guess, excuses were rolling out of Ann Arbor following the win, and I have compiled the five best Michigan fan excuses for the loss to Michigan State. Comment below if you know of, or have heard, some more solid ones.

5. MSU lined up in neutral zone on punt

Oct 17, 2015; Ann Arbor, MI, USA; Michigan State Spartans defensive back Jalen Watts-Jackson (20) dives into the end zone for a game winning touchdown as the clock runs out in the fourth quarter against the Michigan Wolverines at Michigan Stadium. Michigan State 27-23. Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports

This was a good one that was floating around the Twitter-sphere. Some fans were arguing that a Michigan State player, or two, were lined up in the neutral zone on the punt. I took a screenshot for you to judge for yourself. It seems like the fans might be scraping the barrel for excuses at this point.

Michigan State vs Michigan via Youtube

The only player that I can see possibly being even remotely close to the neutral zone is No. 86 Matt Macksood, but his helmet is barely even touching the line of scrimmage. He is clearly on his side of the ball, so that excuse is shot.

On the same note — yes, you get a bonus excuse for this one — some Michigan fans are saying the Spartans roughed the long-snapper, which is completely false. By rule, it’s not roughing if the player who makes contact with the snapper is blocked into him.

I took another snapshot to prove that Macksood was being shoved into the long-snapper pretty viciously, causing him to fall and give the illusion of roughing.

Michigan State vs Michigan via Youtube

Clearly he is being blocked from the side, so this “roughing the center” argument is already an invalid one, at best.

Next: 4. Joe Bolden wrongfully tossed