Spartan Basketball Visits Ground Zero
11/22/2001 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Nov. 22, 2001
NEW YORK, N.Y. - Escorted by Captain Peter Winski (NYPD), Kevin Gorman (FDNY), Peter Jacoutot (NYPD) and Benito Barreiro (NYPD), the Michigan State basketball team and its traveling party toured "Ground Zero" of the September 11 terrorist attacks at the World Trade Center in New York City. On what is sure to be a most memorable Thanksgiving holiday for everyone involved, the Spartans saw first hand the ruins of the worst attack on American soil. But more importantly, they also interacted with some of America's heroes as they heard extraordinary stories of bravery.
Looking over the destruction of the World Trade Center from a makeshift wooden platform, each Spartan had a different reaction to what they saw. But one constant among the entire group was that the sheer magnitude of the destruction was much greater in person than anything they had seen before.
"It really hurts you at the heart to see something like this," said sophomore center Jason Andreas. "You see the pictures on TV and it's nothing like it is here. When you see it up close and personal, you see all the firefighters and policemen and workers moving debris. It's just amazing to see how big some of these building were and what they've been reduced to now."
Although the two Trade Center towers imploded and fell basically straight down, the South tower did fall a little bit into a nearby skyscraper leaving an enormous gash down the middle of the tower. It was this vivid reminder that struck MSU head coach Tom Izzo.
"You see the damaged buildings around here and how big and powerful they were and you get a little bit of a sense of how intense the destruction was," said Izzo. "It's tough to get a perspective on television, but it's also tough to get some perspective here. I can't even begin to imagine watching those buildings come down.
"Words can't explain this. I'm not sure I could tell people about this and they claim it's (the destruction) not even near what it was. It's hard to get a realization of just how big the buildings were and what really went on."
Among the sights at the observation deck were a series of personal notes written in the wooden railings from friends and families of the victims. Reading these notes was difficult for everyone as they served to bring the human element to a mass of metal debris.
"Seeing this makes you realize that everyone that died is a mother, a father, a brother, a sister," said senior guard Mat Ishbia. "You can't imagine losing someone like that."
Perhaps the most common theme among the Spartan visitors was that seeing everything gave everyone a different perspective on life. Coming a day after a disappointing loss to Syracuse in the Preseason NIT semifinals, basketball suddenly wasn't the foremost thing on anyone's mind.
"Being here today helps us realize that basketball is something we do, but life is something that everyone does that is much more important," said Ishbia. "Basketball is one thing, but this is the way people live. This is America."
"We get so wrapped up in basketball," admitted freshman guard Chris Hill. "To come here and look at the destruction puts life in an entirely different perspective. There is so much to life other than basketball and sometimes we seem to forget that. Appreciation of life is something that everyone takes for granted."
One of the special aspects of the visit was the Spartans having time to hang out with New York firefighters and policemen. One of them, firefighter Kevin Gorman, experienced first hand the terror of the attacks. Based out of a firehouse on Manhattan's Upper West Side, Gorman and many others rushed to the south tip of the island to help those in need. He had just entered the South Tower when it began to crumble. He described hurricane-force winds knocking him down and blowing him across the floor. Although he could not see a thing, he just started to run. Not knowing whether he was inside or outside, Gorman desperately escaped the falling debris. Although no one from his firehouse died in the attacks, Gorman knows several fellow firefighters who lost their lives. His bravery was not lost on the Spartans.
"Being here on Thanksgiving helps us realize all the different things we should be thankful for," said associate head coach Brian Gregory. "The lives of the firefighters and policmen will never be the same and they just came to help people."
For Sgt. Peter Jacoutot, an 11-year New York police officer who was heavily involved in the recovery effort, return to "Ground Zero" reminds him of lost friends.
"It's something that's always going to be in your mind," said Jacoutot. "I've been to quite a few services and memorials of friends and people I work with. To me, it's always going to be about the people."
But despite the pain that accompanied Locoutot's return to "Ground Zero", he was more than happy to take the Spartans on their special visit. He viewed it as a thank you for the hospitality he received earlier from Michigan State. On Oct. 13, Gorman, Jocoutot and Barreiro were saluted at halftime of the Michigan State-Iowa homecoming football game.
"To bring the whole team here is special for us," explained Jocoutot. "Being at Michigan State was a very rejuvenating experience for us. There are a lot of good people at Michigan State and in the athletic department. Hopefully, they will get something special out of being here. Maybe their experience here will give people in Michigan a closer connection to what happened here in New York."
For Coach Izzo and the Spartans, the trip to "Ground Zero" proved to be an amazing experience. On a Thanksgiving Day sandwiched in between two important games for a young team, the Spartans experienced something so much more important than winning a tournament. For the 14 young players and the accompanying coaches and support staff, it was a lifetime experience that no one will soon forget.
"I was a proponent from day one that everyone in the world should see this," said Izzo. "I think people should see it to appreciate what we have and how fast it can be taken away. None of us appreciate America enough and it kind of gives you perspective and that's why I think everyone in the world should see it.
"Before we left East Lansing, I said that I wanted my team to grow as people as well as players. I think they will, I know I did."
For more on the Spartans' visit to "Ground Zero" including interviews and moving video footage, watch the Spartan Sports Zone on Sunday at 8:30 a.m. on Fox Sports Detroit.
