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Auchter's Art: Michigan man

Michigan Public | By John Auchter
Published June 26, 2026 at 7:00 AM EDT
In the top panel, two cartoon men sit at a bar, one wearing a Michigan "M" cap and shirt drinking a beer, the other wearing a Michigan State "S" cap and shirt staring at his beer. To the right hangs a framed photo of a smiling man in sunglasses and a Michigan cap with crossed arms, captioned "Pride. Loyalty. Commitment. The Team. The Team. The Team." In the bottom panel, a TV/photo insert shows real-life basketball coaches Dusty May (in Michigan gear) and Tom Izzo (in Michigan State gear) side by side, with text reading: "Dusty May is leaving U of M after two years while Tom Izzo has been head coach at MSU since 1995…" The Michigan-capped cartoon man looks deflated while the Michigan State-capped man pats him on the shoulder, saying, "So the best example of a Michigan Man turns out to be a Spartan!"
John Auchter
/
For Michigan Public
So I was delighted when the Wolverines won the NCAA Men's Division I basketball title this year. But I also don't mind taking the opportunity to poke at the Schembechler-level of devotion of U of M zealots.

A reminder to readers: I'm a Michigan Tech grad and therefore an agnostic as far as the Michigan/Michigan State rivalry goes — I acknowledge that both schools exist, but I don't worship either one.

So I was delighted when the Wolverines won the NCAA Men's Division I basketball title this year. But I also don't mind taking the opportunity to poke at the Schembechler-level of devotion of U of M zealots. If that makes the Spartan Nation happy, so be it.

Editor's note: John Auchter is a freelance political cartoonist. His views are his own and do not necessarily reflect those of Michigan Public, its management, or its license holder, the University of Michigan.
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Opinion Auchter's Artjohn auchterDusty MayMichigan WolverinesMichigan State University
John Auchter
Since 1995 John has created Michigan-based editorial cartoons for the Grand Rapids Business Journal, the Grand Rapids Press, and MLive Newspapers. His cartoons are currently featured at MichiganPublic.org and are syndicated to newspapers through the Michigan Press Association. John is an active member of the Association of American Editorial Cartoonists. You can view an archive of his editorial work and other cartoons at Auchtoon.com.
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