Michigan State football bares a striking resemblance to the Chicago White Sox. in that both programs identify themselves by having a consistent chip on their shoulder. Lots of sports franchises utilize this motivation, but Michigan State and the White Sox have the same exact “we come second in our region” chip.
For MSU, it’s the Michigan Wolverines who overshadow them. For the Sox, it’s the Chicago Cubs. In both cases that chip defines the fan base. Almost to the point that it transcends winning and losing.
The chip isn’t just figurative, it’s literal too.
MSU Offensive Tackle Jack Allen said at Big Ten Media Day that Michigan State football players have t-shirts featuring an actual poker chip with the Spartan head logo and the words “Michigan State Strength and Conditioning” on it.
Allen is a projected potential NFL first round draft pick, as his position group mate Jack Conklin, and we asked Allen why scouts might be so high on Conklin, and that’s how this topic came up.
“He’s another guy that has that chip on his shoulder in that no one believed in him when he was coming out of high school,” Allen said of Conklin.
Naturally, we followed up by asking if the proverbial chip on the shoulder is a program thing.
“Yeah I would say so,” he responded before describing the literal chip.
“Actually, we have to wear the same workout shirt for our lifts and there’s a chip printed on your shoulder.”
Quarterback Connor Cook used the phrase a few times himself today.
“We want to earn more, not be complacent, and fight complacency and continue to have that chip on our shoulder,” Cook said.
“If you have that chip on your shoulder good things will happen.”
Cook’s predecessor, Kirk Cousins, often espoused similar philosophies about having a chip on his shoulder when he made the Big Ten Media Day rounds in his day.
This year’s Michigan State football slogan is “Reach Higher.” In recent years, the mantra has been “P4RB: Prepare for Rose Bowl” and “Chase It.”
“Reach higher” obviously refers to going from a Big Ten title to a national title. MSU lost only two games last year- to Oregon and Ohio State, the two teams that played for a national title. They enter the season ranked #6 in the coaches poll. Ohio State is #1.
“The bar has been set, we’re getting to the bar, but we need to get those extra inches like last year and get a little farther,” said Allen.
Paul M. Banks is the Founding Editor of The Sports Bank. He’s also the author of “Transatlantic Passage: How the English Premier League Redefined Soccer in America,” and “No, I Can’t Get You Free Tickets: Lessons Learned From a Life in the Sports Media Industry.”
He currently contributes to Ravens Wire, part of the USA Today SMG’s NFL Wire Network and the Internet Baseball Writers Association of America. His past bylines include the New York Daily News, Sports Illustrated, Chicago Tribune and the Washington Times. You can follow him on Twitter.