密歇根新闻广播 密歇根州和密歇根州足球的111次会议

Michigan and Michigan State both faced highly ranked opponents last weekend.

The unranked Spartans¹ suffered a couple bad losses, and entered last week's game looking for a miracle against eighth-ranked Penn State at Penn State, no less, one of thetoughest places to play. But the Spartans pulled the upset, earning them a 4-2 record and a return to the top 25.

Meanwhile, Michigan started its three game "gauntlet," a brutal² stretch consisting of Wisconsin, Michigan State, and Penn State. All three beat Michigan last year, and all three were ranked in the top 12 when this season started. If the Wolverines were going toprove they were ready to jump back into the top echelon³, this would be the time to do it.

Under the lights on a big national stage, the Wolverines thrashed Wisconsin like old times, 38-13. It was Michigan's biggest win in two years, catapulting the Wolverines from 12th to 6th in the national rankings.

But both teams' success will be eclipsed by whatever happens this weekend. Why? Because, for the 111th time, they're playing each other.

Michigan has three main rivals, and they're all different. With Notre Dame⁴, the fansare respectful, and so are the players. With Ohio State, the players are respectful, while a lot of their fans aren't.

With Michigan State, the fans are generally respectful. Everyone in the state has friends who went to both schools, creating a fun week of ribbing between them. But the respect stops there. The players have harbored a genuine hate for each other going back decades.

Michigan players, past and present, will tell you no one hits them harder, or later,or cheaper. The trash talk is constant, and when the whistle blows, the extracurricularsstart, including spitting, scratching, and even punching to the groin.

For all these reasons, it's been a painful decade for the Wolverines. Although the Spartans have been the underdog in six of the past ten games against Michigan, the Spartans have won eight of them. Even Michigan State's national championship coaches, Biggie Munn and Duffy Daugherty, never had a better decade against Michigan than current coach Mark Dantonio.

While a victory over Ohio State is always the crown jewel for a successful Michigan season, you get the feeling beating the Spartans might be more important to the currentWolverines, for the simple reason that losing to them is so painful.

And that's why, minutes after Michigan finished whopping up on Wisconsin, Wolverine star Chase Winovich said, "The revenge tour has officially commenced."

And there's probably no one the Wolverines want revenge against more than their neighbors in East Lansing – mainly because it's proven so hard to get.

1 spartans   

n.斯巴达（spartan的复数形式）

参考例句：

• The ancient Spartans used to expose babies that they did not want. 古斯巴达人常遗弃他们不要的婴儿。
• But one by one the Spartans fell. 可是斯巴达人一个一个地倒下了。

2 brutal   

adj.残忍的，野蛮的，不讲理的

参考例句：

• She has to face the brutal reality.她不得不去面对冷酷的现实。
• They're brutal people behind their civilised veneer.他们表面上温文有礼，骨子里却是野蛮残忍。

3 echelon   

n.梯队；组织系统中的等级；v.排成梯队

参考例句：

• What kind of friends can be considered the first echelon of the friends?那什么样的朋友才能算第一梯队的朋友？
• These are the first echelon members.这些是我们的第一梯队的队员。

4 dame   

n.女士

参考例句：

• The dame tell of her experience as a wife and mother.这位年长妇女讲了她作妻子和母亲的经验。
• If you stick around,you'll have to marry that dame.如果再逗留多一会，你就要跟那个夫人结婚。