Michigan State has an ugly reputation for partying a bit too hard, and for being some pretty sore losers to boot. According to the Detroit Free Press and Lansing's local Fox News Channel, on Monday, it was acknowledged by city officials that things may have not changed all that much...
In 2005, after the basketball team's loss to UNC in the Final Four, over 2,000 Michigan State students and non-students took immediately to the streets setting fires, destroying public property, and rioting well into the night. Police responded by launching tear gas into the crowds, having helicopters circle overhead for hours, and making dozens upon dozens of arrests. The damage toll came to $8,275 to the city of East Lansing, but the city council estimated overall expenses at $190,389.
Certainly not a point of pride for the city, nor the university.
Hearken back to 1999.
Following MSU's loss to, yep, you guessed it, the Duke Blue Devils in the NCAA Final Four of that year, over 10,000 angry students and non-students held one of the country's most-infamous riots that resulted in fires and damages that would eventually cost the city nearly $500,000 in damages. The riot resulted in a case being filed with the Michigan Supreme Court that saw the passage of a new state law into effect allowing judges the right to exercise the power to bar students convicted of rioting from attending public colleges for up to two years.
Clearly, Michigan State is not a program that likes to lose. And clearly, these clownish students and non-students alike have helped to taint and color the MSU program as one that has a clear and serious issue with being far too "comfortable" with rioting.
Then there was Michigan State's loss to Duke in last Friday's Sweet 16 battle. As usual, upset fans (some students and non-students) set fire to couches and caused general debauchery for a few hours after the game, but overall, East Lansing Fire Department Captain Steve Peto said that damage was minimal and nothing compared to MSU's previous checkered past in previous NCAA tournament riots.
“They had a run of couch fires, nothing serious, until 2 a.m., and after that it calmed down,” Peto said. “They just had a quick burst after the game.”
These days, couch fires and minor disturbances have become commonplace for East Lansing Fire officials, and at times, can even signal a successful run for one of Michigan State's athletic teams.
“We don’t look forward to the couch fires, but we wanted them to go further,” Peto said. “Always rooting for the Spartans. Hopefully they’ll go further next year.
“We learn from experience. We get better each year.”
Let's hope the dolts on MSU's campus who like to incite the spirit of the riots from the program's past can be as intelligent... or is that just wishful thinking?
You can follow MSU Examiner, Michael Ferro, at twitter.com/MichaelFerro.
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