Former U-M Linebacker Larry Foote Shares His Insight on MSU Rivalry
This past week an article appeared in the Detroit Free Press putting one of the University of Michigan’s finest on display. The article was a transcript of a radio show interview between WDFN’s Stoney, Wojo of the Detroit Free Press and the ever so eloquent Larry Foote (former UM linebacker). One of the topics that Larry wanted to discuss was Michigan’s archrival Michigan State. This article ran only days after Izzo’s basketball team took The West Virginia University at Ann Arbor and stomped them into the hardwood. It was a game that was capped with a beautiful (and I mean beautiful) Durrell Summers dunk straight from downtown Detroit.
I don’t know what was more impressive about the article, Wojo’s willingness to print such garbage or Larry Foote’s responses that clearly put his University of Michigan education on display. They were actually debating the wardrobe worn by the Spartans of ancient Greece. One of the better Larry Foote quotes came on the heels of a caller who referenced Maximus’ chlamys as seen in the movie 300. “Maximus defeated people. Y'all not defeating nobody, so that looks like a skirt to me. Spartina, Spartina!†Yes Larry, it does look like a skirt to you. During ancient Greek times men and women all over the world wore such things. Maize and Blue football uniforms and denim were not yet created.
Larry then decided it was time to address the MSU campus. “I'm being honest, I'm 100% honest. I did a poll, I was doing a survey, let's just go there and make it a big parking lot, tear the whole school down. Does Ford need some land to load these trucks up?†Actually Larry, that isn’t a bad idea. We should tear the MSU campus down, build a landfill where Beaumont Tower now stands, dig a great big hole where Spartan Stadium used to stand proudly, put a bunch of bleachers around it and call it an improvement so that Wolverines can feel more comfortable when they visit East Lansing. I’d like to apologize to you and Wolverine fans everywhere for having a superior campus. Oh and Larry, don’t worry about the Ford trucks, rumor has it that business isn’t going so well and they could park most of them in Crisler Arena next to five hundred fans that attend Wolverine Basketball games.
Stoney from WDFN was kind enough to turn the conversation to education. Stoney asked Larry Foote if Lloyd ever gets pissed that his football players don’t typically finish their education. In an attempt to put himself among the most educated scholars that ever crossed the University of Michigan campus, Larry had this to say. “Yes he does. Lloyd, whenever I talk to him, he gives me slack for not graduating. But I'll take two years at Michigan over a four-year degree from Michigan State any day. No, I'll take a semester over a degree from Michigan State.†Of course you would Larry. I don’t blame you. You see at Michigan State University, our athletes can actually major in areas outside of Kinesiology and professional football.
I look at Free Press articles featuring pathetic story lines like this as desperate propaganda. The best thing the Detroit Media has going for it is Shannon Shelton. If they didn’t have her unbiased and intelligent reporting they might as well change their name to the Ann Arbor Lantern.
Basketball has already become a joke in this state for Wolverine fans and denial is setting in quickly. The tide is turning in football and the desperate attempts by the Detroit media to help M-Rod land Pryor are comical. If they don’t stem the tide now, they will be writing the same headlines in the fall as they do in the winter and spring. They will sound something like this… Spartans Demolish Wolverines in Ann Arbor… MSU Makes it Three in a Row in East Lansing… Rodriguez Can’t Get Over the MSU Hump… oh the poetry… the music and song expressed so beautifully.
I would personally like to thank Larry Foote for his insight this past week. I would also like to thank Wojo for running that fodder. You guys make my little column so much fun to write. Larry, all those millions you are making right now playing professional football… do you have anyone managing that money? I’d hate to read about you ten years from now, penniless, homeless, and without a university education. The sad reality is that people know you because you have money and play professional football. Will they remember you when your football career is over? Enjoy the money, the professional football accolades while you can. Based upon your interview, I’d say that’s all you have going for you.
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