The Few (5 at at a time to be exact), The Proud, The Spartans!

Prior to the game on Friday, Izzo commented via radio that games like this (referring to playing before the military) help us to remember that sports/basketball is not life or death. Thank goodness! Those were words to recall for comfort during the first half of the Spartans opening game.  More assurance comes from remembering last year’s first two games (I know, I too tried to block some games from my memory), played by unranked Michigan State. The same team that later cut down the nets at the Big Ten Championship Tournament, claiming a #1 seed in the NCAA tournament. Like it or not, we save our time to shine for later in the season. So no, I’m not worried.

Speaking of shining, there were some shiny diamonds in the rough throughout the game, so here we are to put on our loyal Sparty smile and recall those moments and players. Hero of the game goes to Dawson. Dawson is healthy, he’s back with passionate energy and I expect him to just continue to get better as the season moves forward. As for the teamwork and leadership discussed in my previous blog.....I saw a lot of passing.....I also saw a lot of passing by us to UConn.....mmhmm, back to the loyal Sparty smile. :) We came back from behind by 16 points, Appling played long and hard, and Harris exhibited great confidence as a Freshman playing in a high profile first true game of the season. 

The game played Friday at Ramstein Air Base may not have been a life or death situation, but it was more than just a game. It honored our service men and women, it honored our veterans of past and present, it honored college basketball, and it honored Michigan State University. I was proud before AND after to be a Spartan. Proud to be an alumni of the university that played in BOTH the FIRST college basketball game played on an aircraft carrier (2011) and on a military base overseas. Win or lose, no matter what comes in the future (and I hope more games like Friday’s are to come), Michigan State made history. There will be no other “first games” of this kind. We were it. 

Mark Hollis and Tom Izzo have creatively and graciously paved the way for college basketball to be about more than just a game. What an honor to be able to be proud of an athletic program not solely due to it’s winning record (though what a record it is!!), but its integrity, patriotism, and drive to have its team play for more than just the points on the scoreboard. Pause and think about that for a minute. Got a Sparty smile on your face yet? Be proud to represent Michigan State University. Its basketball program has certainly represented it well. 

Go State, and Happy Veterans Day!

Some Mark Hollis Facts:

2001- Helped mastermind the MSU vs UofM outdoor hockey game at Spartan Stadium

2003- Architected the “BasketBowl”, MSU vs Kentucky at Detroit’s Ford Field (this concept of placing the court in a football stadium has been used in the last four Final Four games. 

2011- His vision led to MSU playing in the first basketball game played on an aircraft carrier

2012- Named Athletic Director of the Year by Street and Smith’s SportsBusiness Journal

Pure Michigan State Awesomeness Mark Hollis!