9K rally for Spartans at Breslin Center
By Jessica Lipowski (Last updated: 04/07/09 2:45am)Fans chanted Izzone cheers and attempted to keep spirits high as the squeaking of the players’ shoes echoed throughout Breslin Center.
Except this time, all eyes were intently staring at a video feed high above the basketball court, bringing to campus the sights and sounds of the game in Detroit.
A crowd of about 9,000 fans gathered at Breslin Center for a special viewing party Monday night to watch the MSU men’s basketball team compete for the national championship against North Carolina.
The thousands of fans lined up outside Breslin Center about an hour and a half before doors opened at 8:15 p.m.
Fans displayed a variety of green and white attire, from painted bodies to beads and Spartans helmets, and the sense of community around Breslin Center was infectious.
“It’s really great to see a variety of Spartan fans together,” said Nancy Yeadon, senior event coordinator for Breslin Center. “It really is a true hodgepodge of the community.”
By 9:40 p.m., officials had to open the upper bowl to accommodate the crowd, since the lower bowl had filled to capacity.
Cheers started off strong among the crowd as the game kicked off, but died down by halfway through the first half before picking up again as the MSU men’s basketball team headed to the locker room.
Despite the Spartans being down by more than 20 points at halftime and some fans leaving, the remaining crowd still exuded support.
“I am here to support the team and be around other Spartan fans,” theater sophomore Tom Brennan said.
Cheerleaders came onto the floor during commercials, performing back flips and escalating chants such as, “Go Green! Go White!”
After almost every shot, fans were crossing their fingers hoping MSU would pull ahead.
But despite the best efforts of students to keep the community’s hopes high, fans started leaving with as much as seven minutes to go in the game.
The MSU men’s basketball team couldn’t find a rhythm to secure the win. Devastation filled the air.
“There’s a big cloud over our state right now,” communication junior Erika Weadock said.
While Weadock said it was hard to watch the team end the season with a loss in the national championship, she said the Spartans had a great run.
“Even though they haven’t had the best game, we’re still behind them 100 percent,” Weadock said.
Brian Holowecky, a first-year student in the college of human medicine, agreed. While he said he wished the Spartans would have done better, he said MSU’s run was something the state could celebrate.
“This is one of the best things that has happened to us,” Holowecky said.
Originally Published: 04/06/09 10:42pm
MSU Blows!!
04/06/09 11:02pmThis is the greatest game… way to embarrass yourselves in front of the whole country! Should have lost in the semis when you had the chance. State sucks!
Bleed Green
04/06/09 11:09pmNo, Michigan State is a great team. Tonight looks like it’s not our night. You, however, are an asshole, and will be one for the rest of time. So…at least you have THAT accomplishment under your belt.
Current Spartan students, no matter what happens, please represent us well.
Orgyporgy
04/06/09 11:09pmAw, shove it you bleeding wanker. They’ve done a damn good job and hell, I’d love to see YOU do better, you sweaty ugly hairy disgusting heap of worthlessness! Sitting there in front of your TV with your greasy hands full of yet another slice of pizza and a glass of beer, as if your body needs any more of either, I’d love to see you get off your lazy ass for once! You think anyone cares at all?
You’re pathetic.
lol
04/06/09 11:51pmpathetic play, they got too cocky and that whole “Its the destiny” crap ruined everything. Spartans need endless hours of practice in shooting 2 pointers.
Bleed Green
04/07/09 12:00am@lol
The Spartans were out-played today. They made stupid mistakes. They fouled when they shouldn’t have, and couldn’t get shots to drop. They got beat, plain and simple. But there is one thing they were DEFINITELY not, and that is cocky. Believing you CAN win doesn’t mean you’re cocky, it means you have a spine.
Dan
04/07/09 10:05amState went down 22-7 in the first 3 minutes and that is what lost the game. After that they kept it around the same deficit till the end of the game. The ended up losing by the same amount. Had they not made so many dumb mistakes in the beginning this would have been a closer game. State didn’t play terrible for a majority of the game, but they were outplayed in the beginning and never made up for it.
04/07/09 11:26amI’m proud of our Spartans. They have conducted themselves with dignity and class all season and they bring nothing but honor to themselves and to this institution.
T-Walt, Goran, Quise, and Idong – thanks for everything, guys!!!
04/07/09 11:27amOh yeah, and how can we forget Coach Izzo and his staff. You guys are the best! Thanks for all you do and we look forward to cheering you on again next season!