Those who know the game by that name need no further explanation. Whether you are a fan, staff member or athlete, you know there’s no love lost along the 68 miles from Allendale to Big Rapids.

As one who has experienced this ultra-competitive rivalry from all three of those perspectives, here are three first-hand things I can tell you about:

 

The emotions are extremely contagious.

While it's not a mind-blowing statement, its impact is immense. As a former Bulldog athlete, our biggest championship races came lining up against the Lakers. Seeing the stacked “GV” on their uniform always lit a deep fire in my chest, and one look in my teammate’s eyes showed the same reflecting intensity. 

All the preparation for this battle makes the amygdala work twice as hard as any ordinary event. Whatever noise you think a stadium is at a given time, an athlete will tell you they feel it 10 times over. As crazy as it sounds, athletes and fans will remember the emotions of this game more vividly than the result itself. 

 

It demands the utmost excellence.

The number of people invested in this game is unbelievable. My first Anchor-Bone experience as a beat writer, with this very same publication, was back in 2021. Under the darkness of a West Michigan night, I witnessed a record-breaking 17,007 fans pack into Lubbers Stadium to see the Bulldogs’ triumphant 35-28 win over the Lakers. A year later, I watched a Top Taggart record of 12,661 fans pile in through the Wheeler Pavilion windows. 

Whether it’s the stadium environment, TV and radio broadcast, game footage, security detail, social media posts or any other coverage element, fans expect all of us as staff to be at our best for this game ... and we take that seriously.

 

It is just a game.

I can hear the Bulldog boos through the text … and that’s okay. The 23 official years of this rivalry mean a lot to a team’s season; however, it doesn’t decide its season’s fate. I’m not saying this game doesn’t matter; but they will play for the Anchor-Bone trophy, not a national championship trophy.

The roar of the crowd is nature’s best equivalent of dopamine, but it’s not an excuse to be unreasonable and irresponsible. While we encourage every fan to be loud and proud, that doesn’t mean be rowdy and rude. As one who has firsthand seen photographers spit on and heard high-end executives being cussed out in front of their families, I simply say one thing: Don’t be a moron.

 

All in all, this game means a lot to both of these towns, campuses and fanbases. For the over 30,000 current students and the millions of footprints that have stepped on the same sidewalks, this game’s prize isn’t really the trophy or the score ... it’s the pride. I’ve had the privilege in my seven years as a Dawg to experience this rivalry as a broadcaster, creative, reporter and competitor. I can tell you to this day, I still remember the feelings from every single game. No matter what the result is on Saturday, enjoy the moment while it's here.

Oh, and one more thing ... Anchor Down!

_{Photo credit to Miles Postema (Captured at Lubbers Stadium).}

_{*Disclaimer: This article was also published in the Ferris State Torch on Wednesday, Oct. 22.}