Denard Robinson is fanning the rivalry flames between Michigan and Michigan State even though he’s no longer in college.
The Jacksonville Jaguars “offensive weapon” and former Michigan quarterback did an interview with Big Ten Network this week ahead of Saturday’s Michigan-Notre Dame game. Robinson was asked to rank the Wolverines’ rivals. The question was prefaced by Notre Dame coach Brian Kelly’s comments that the game is just a regional one and not a big rivalry.
“Of course we’ve got to say Ohio (State’s) the biggest one,” Robinson said. “(Then) Notre Dame and (No. 3) Michigan State, our little brothers.”
The order of his rankings was not surprising, but the disrespectful term he used to describe the Spartans was.
Former Michigan running back Mike Hart once called Michigan State the same thing, but he went 4-0 against them. Robinson went 1-3 against the Spartans (really 1-2 based on playing time), throwing for just two touchdowns and five interceptions in those games.
If a team has “scoreboard” rights on you, you can’t blast them with trash talk like that. But as far as respect and prestige goes, Michigan State is a lesser rival for Michigan than Ohio State and Notre Dame. They just don’t have that same football tradition.
Video of his comments is below:
H/T Diamond Leung
