A jam-packed Breslin Center helped both the men’s and women’s basketball teams usher in the start of the 2002-03 season Friday night.
Master of ceremonies Terry “Boom Boom” Braverman got the Midnight Mania crowd riled up, followed by the Spartan Marching Band leading the crowd in the school fight song.
San Francisco 49ers head coach Steve Mariucci sent a message to his buddy - men’s basketball head coach Tom Izzo - via video screen.
“Tonight is the first step to another championship run, Izzo,” he said. “Go get it.”
Trena Anderson, director of basketball operations, started off the Grammy themed introductions by shouting, “I am here to present the nominees for best new artist of the year.”
Players and coaches from both the men’s and women’s teams hit the floor to tunes from artists such as Styles P of The Lox and the Ohio Players.The athletes were escorted on stage where each of the four Big Ten championship (1998-2001) trophies were on display.
Each player received a roaring round of applause from the crowd, but the most stirring ovations were saved for the coaches.
Women’s head coach Joanne P. McCallie, decked out in leather and a patriotic bandana, was “Bad to the Bone” as she entered the arena on a Harley-Davidson. And although the moment was hers, she was quick to direct the attention to her players.
“They all look like winners to me,” she said. “They’re the ones that are bad to the bone.”
Following the women’s team introduction, a video montage of Izzo’s journey from Iron Mountain to East Lansing was shown before he was lowered from the Breslin Center’s rafters.
Izzo said he might make more money being a coach, but he would have rather stayed on the ground if possible.
Izzo quickly got down to business, saying the team was going to work hard to get back to the Final Four.
“The championship belongs in East Lansing,” he said.
Izzo also said he was sick of Duke, and although he has much respect for teams like Kentucky, Kansas and Arizona, the message was clear. He let the crowd know, in so many words, those teams were targets for this season.
Braverman closed out the introductions.
“It’s way past midnight,” he said. “Let’s play some basketball.”
