The lead up to this year's Michigan-Michigan State game was very different than most meetings between the two in-state rivals. The Wolverines were riding high as the No. 2 team in the nation, while the Spartans had endured four consecutive losses in the wake of their head coach being fired.
The buildup to the game featured questions to both sides about the Michigan Stadium tunnel incident which occurred the year prior. Both sides brushed those questions off, with U-M head coach Jim Harbaugh and tailback Blake Corum referring to the incident as "in the past" and not having an affect on this year's game. This week, however, Wolverine offensive lineman Trevor Keegan was more candid with the game — a 49-0 win for Michigan — in the rearview mirror.
"I think really, just the thing that happened last year in the tunnel, that really motivated us as well," Keegan said. "I know guys were like, 'don't let it distract you'...'we're over it' — No, we weren't over it. We wanted to come there, you know, really beat down on them so it was nice. It was a good time."
While it's not a surprise that the Wolverines used the tunnel incident from 2022 as motivation for the game — we're sure the Spartans used that experience, and seeing several of their teammates charged with crimes as a result, as motivation too — it is interesting that it wasn't until after Michigan had won that a Wolverine player had the gumption to talk about it honestly.
Of course, the headlines going into the game had little to do with the tunnel incident the year prior, or the actual matchup itself. Instead, the conversation almost exclusively revolved around the on-going investigation into Michigan's alleged sign-stealing practices. Keegan was asked about that as well, and took on a little different tone.
"I deleted Twitter, because there's no point having it right now," Keegan said. "Just stay focused with the guys on the team, just keep grinding...People, they've got their opinions, they're welcome to have it, but as a team, as a leader, we're going to continue to be us.
"As a player that's been here a while, it's bothersome because we worked so hard to change this program and bring it back to where it's supposed to be. Everybody can make their allegations all they want, but the people who are in here, we know what we do, we know how we work, we know how we are as teammates. It's like a family here, so, it's whatever at this point."
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