"Go to little bro crib in East Lansing, pop out, it's going to be a good time," said transfer defensive lineman Tre Williams. "Maize and blue only."
PLYMOUTH − A trio of Michigan football players made their feelings heard loud and clear about their in-state rival, Michigan State.
At the Champions Circle Golf Classic on Monday, July 21, at The Cardinal at Saint Johns in Plymouth, defensive linemen Derrick Moore, Rayshaun Benny and transfer Tre Williams (Clemson) pulled out some of the key catch phrases when they were asked about this year's trip to East Lansing.
"That's at little bro stadium this year," Benny said.
When asked for clarification "who is little bro," Benny repeated "Michigan State" before Moore chimed in: "They know who they is."
Williams, a sixth year defensive tackle who spent the past five years at Clemson, seems to have quickly adapted to the rivalry, also getting in on the smack talk.
"Go to little bro crib in East Lansing, pop out, it's going to be a good time," he said. "Maize and blue only."
At that point, Moore, who was holding the microphone, reached down to his waist and ripped off his belt before he began smacking it on the grass in front of him three times in a row, along with Benny and Williams simulating the motion along side of him as they laughed.
"Belt all to they behind," Williams said.
Michigan has won three consecutive games in the rivalry for the first time since 2002-07, when it won six straight. Prior to that, MSU had taken 10 of the previous 14 matchups dating back to 2008 as the rivalry was flipped on its head for the better part of a decade.
To be fair, the last time U-M played in East Lansing it was one of the largest victories of the modern era in the battle for Paul Bunyan as the 2023 team delivered a 49-0 beatdown at Spartan Stadium en route to winning a national championship.
That said, last year was much closer. Michigan beat MSU 24-17, but trailed much of the first half before an Aidan Chiles fumble with less than 30 seconds left in the second quarter set up U-M to take the 9-7 lead going into the break.
MSU had the ball down a touchdown at the Michigan 21 with three minutes left and later faced fourth-and-5 from the 16 when a Chiles pass fell incomplete and the Wolverines were able to hold on to the victory.
That was the indoctrination into the rivalry for MSU coach Jonathan Smith, something U-M coach Sherrone Moore had been familiar with after more than a half decade in Ann Arbor. The game is scheduled for Oct. 25, with the kickoff time still to be determined.
Tony Garcia is the Michigan Wolverines beat writer for the Detroit Free Press. Email him at [email protected] and follow him on X at @RealTonyGarcia.
This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: U-M football players say of MSU: "That's little bro...belt to behind"
Category: General Sports
