EAST LANSING, Mich. (AP) – A statue of Earvin “Magic” Johnson on the campus of Michigan State University has been vandalized with yellow paint ahead of the Spartans football game against Michigan. The statue of the former basketball star outside Breslin Center in East Lansing had an “M” and the words “BEAT STATE” painted on it. Michigan’s colors are maize and blue. MLive.com reports the statue was being cleaned Thursday and vandals also hit the sidewalk along Demonstration Hall Road and an area behind the “Sparty” statue. Supporters of Michigan and Michigan State have been on guard duty to prevent possible vandalism to campus landmarks ahead of Saturday’s game. At the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor, students are guarding the block “M” on the Diag. No. 12 Michigan hosts No. 7 Michigan State.
