Michigan State Football: Trae Waynes takes shot at Michigan Stadium

Former Michigan State football star Trae Waynes took a major shot at Michigan Stadium, calling it one of the most overrated environments in the nation.

Trae Waynes had one heck of a college football career. The Wisconsin-native went from an under-recruited two-star prospect to an All-American and first-round NFL draft pick.

On the way to the NFL ranks, Waynes was a first-team All-Big Ten member, Thorpe Award finalist and he won a conference title and three bowl games including the Rose and Cotton Bowls. He left one year early after a monster junior season and was selected by the Minnesota Vikings.

It’s hard to argue that there was a more successful player in the Mark Dantonio era but Waynes exceeded all expectations, and that included helping Michigan State continue its rivalry dominance over the Michigan Wolverines.

From 2011 (his redshirt season) to 2014, Waynes witnessed three Michigan State wins to just one loss against the Wolverines. He also traveled to Michigan Stadium just once in 2012.

Though Michigan State lost by a last-second field goal, he has an interesting recollection of the atmosphere in the Big House.

That 12-10 loss to Michigan in 2012 was a snoozer as a noon game, so it’s not all that surprising to hear this type of remark regarding the atmosphere. Neither team was all that good and there was nothing to really play for, but the crowd was still 100,000-plus strong. Hearing that it wasn’t impressive for a road team in a rivalry was a bit interesting.

And former Michigan State fullback Todd Anderson (2007-2011) agreed. He was part of four Michigan State victories over the Wolverines, including two in Ann Arbor in 2008 and 2010.

Is this why Michigan State continues to have luck in Ann Arbor and why the Wolverines have struggled at home in rivalries in recent years? Possibly, but it seems like the athletic department needs to figure why 100,000-plus fans can’t make a major difference.