The athletes rise to a whole other level. People do not forget these games. I told our players that I wouldn't grade them on technique as long as they protected the ball. It rained so hard sometimes, you could not see the other side of the field. We beat them, 31-0, by not turning the ball over, and they turned it over half a dozen times.
Recent memory is the immediate concern as tomorrow approaches.
In this game, one team earns bragging rights for 52 weeks. This game means you have one year where you can gloat or they can. This game is important to everyone in the state. The players know there is no joy in spending the next 12 months hiding from Spartans. You can't have a successful season at Michigan and lose to Michigan State.