Spartan Basketball Opens Season In Grand Style
10/11/2002 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Oct. 11, 2002
EAST LANSING, Mich. - Midnight Madness has become commonplace across the United States, as it marks the beginning of the college basketball season every year. But after the performance Friday evening at "Let The Music Play" inside the Breslin Center, Michigan State has set the standard by which all future events will be measured.
Doors opened at 10:30 p.m. and fans were treated to autographs from players and coaches, along with games and performances by the MSU band, Spartan cheerleaders and MSU dance team.
The program, however, really got started at 11:30 p.m. with a video introduction from San Francisco 49ers head coach Steve Mariucci. He mentioned that his bags were already packed for a Final Four trip to New Orleans and encouraged Spartan fans to do the same. As he returned to preparing for San Francisco's Monday night game at Seattle, he asked Spartan fans, "Are you ready for some basketball?"
The women's basketball team was the first to be introduced, as each player walked down the red carpet to the stage at the South end of the arena. Head coach Joanne P. McCallie entered the arena on a Harley-Davidson motorcycle, symbolic of the women's "Come Along For The Ride" theme to the season.
Then it was time for the men to make their grand entrance. One by one, each player entered the arena accompanied by a song of his choosing.
The highlight of the evening was Coach Tom Izzo's entrance. As a 40-foot banner signed by the team and its fans was raised to the rafters in the North end of the arena, spotlights found Izzo hanging from the rafters and rappelling to the floor of the Breslin Center. The crowd erupted as Izzo made his descent. With Izzo dressed like Bruce Springsteen from the "Born In The U.S.A." album, a song entitled "Born In The U.P., eh!" played over the sound system.
After safely reaching the bottom, Izzo addressed the crowd of approximately 13,000.
"When I came to Michigan State, my dreams were to go to a Final Four, win a national championship and fill the place for Midnight Madness," said Izzo. "I want to thank everyone of you here tonight. This is incredible.
"The reason we asked you to sign the banner was to symbolize your commitment to this team. I don't know about you, but as Steve Mariucci told me, the Final Four is the best event in all of sports and my commitment to you is that we will do everything possible to get to New Orleans. Championships belong in East Lansing.
"I want you to hold me responsible," Izzo continued. "I want you to hold my players responsible, because I promise you that I am holding you responsible to do everything you can to help this team. This show could be the greatest show on earth if we all work together."
The evening concluded with brief scrimmages by both the men's and women's team. As the fans left the Breslin Center sometime before 1:00 a.m. on Saturday morning, it's safe to assume that they were both surprised and entertained.
