With the big clash between the Michigan Wolverines and Michigan State Spartans coming up this weekend, the Wolverines found themselves the victim of some gentle provocation from Spartans supporters. The big block M in the middle of their campus was found painted Spartan green with the letters S and U spray-painted after it. Mark Dantonio would surely not approve.
Of course, these sort of pranks have been prevalent for years across college campuses, ranging from the fairly innocuous to the slightly more toxic.
Dog day afternoon
In 1933, Yale’s mascot – Handsome Dan – was the victim of a dognapping. Harvard students, who should surely be above such frippery, kidnapped the bulldog. The next day a photo of Handsome Dan licking the feet of a statue of John Harvard was placed in newspapers.
Sweet revenge
Yale got their revenge, albeit 71 years later, when some enterprising supporters – disguised as Harvard fans – manage to trick the Harvard crowd into holding up 1800 cards that spelt out “We suck”.
Comedians in training
Georgia Tech were due in Auburn for a game in 1896 – so the Auburn students greased up the train tracks. When the Yellow Jacks train tried to stop at the station it just kept on chugging – for five more miles. They did eventually make it to the game, but lost 45-0.
Poison rivalry
Auburn again, but this time they were the victim. The fans traditionally gather at the iconic Toomer’s Corner oak trees. But in 2013 one Alabama fan decided to put a stop to that, poisoning and killing the oaks. He was sentenced to three years in jail as a result.
Paper of record
In 1982 the Stanford Cardinals lost 20-25 against the California Golden Bears thanks to what has become known as “The Play”. After Stanford had taken a 20–19 lead on a field goal with four seconds left in the game, the Bears used five lateral passes from the kick-off return to score the winning touchdown. But it didn’t end there. Stanford students produced a fake Daily Cal newspaper – with pre-Photoshop mocked up photos, saying that the NCAA had overturned Cal’s victory – and given it to Stanford. It was distributed widely to Cal students – who bought the lie.
Revenge of the nerds
In 2003 Amherst students burnt a huge letter A into Williams College’s football field. Scratching their head over how to get their revenge, Williams’ students struck upon a fine idea – in 2005 they burnt a giant B+ into the Amherst football field. Revenge doesn’t get much sweeter – or nerdier.
