Just before the hockey national championship parade started, Phil Collins' hit song "In the Air Tonight" blared from a radio station van near Spartan statue.
Collins couldn't have been more right.
With thousands of fans lining East Grand River Avenue, Abbott Road and East and West Circle drives, and hundreds more congregated around Spartan statue, the MSU hockey team received boisterous support from fans covered in green and white.
These fans ranged in age — they could tell you about the 1966 national championship, the 1986 national championship and some were barely old enough to remember the start of the 2006-07 season.
And when senior captain Chris Lawrence, holding the national championship trophy above his head, bolted down the green carpet laid down on the ice in Munn Ice Arena and placed it on a white-clothed table, an estimated 4,500 fans awaiting the team's arrival erupted in cheers.
"I don't have to question it, but if it's that loud every game (next season), I don't think any team in the nation would want to play here," junior defenseman Daniel Vukovic said.
When Lawrence was introduced to the fans, he skated around the rink at full speed with a white MSU flag, stopping at the center ice line to wave it with joy, pride and an uncontrollable smile.
"I just completely blacked out in the moment," Lawrence said. "I don't even remember doing it. This is surreal, it's nuts, it's unbelievable. It's by far the greatest night of my life."
When Athletics Director and former hockey coach Ron Mason took the podium, the crowd rose to its feet. Moments later, Mason brought MSU head coach Rick Comley to the microphone. The fans were on their feet again, shouting the fight song.
During Comley's speech, the fans gave more standing ovations.
"Until now, we've been celebrating with the hockey family on the ice, in the locker room and traveling back on the plane," Comley said after the ceremony. "But now, you get here and the community and then the campus — the people here — they were thrilled.
"It leaves a lasting impression on you."
Another ovation erupted when Lawrence approached the podium. Lawrence buried his head, trying to hold back tears of happiness.
Many players had similar problems concealing their emotions, but none of them cared.
"Right when I jumped out of the truck at the end of the parade, I just lost it," junior forward Bryan Lerg said. "I couldn't hold it in any longer. It was amazing to see all the fans out there, and it's just an unbelievable thing to be a part of all this."
Standing atop a pick-up truck, sophomore forward Nick Sucharski blew kisses to the cheering crowd as he cruised down East Grand River Avenue during the parade celebrating MSU's third NCAA hockey championship. Lawrence again held the championship trophy over his head, symbolizing what the Spartans fought for.
Beginning on Abbott Road, continuing down East Grand River Avenue and then through campus, MSU fans came together to support their Spartans — be they hockey followers or just plain fans.
Family ties
The last time Cheryl Wilson took her kids to an MSU national championship hockey parade was in 1986.
She admits they've grown a bit since then, but along with nine other family members, Wilson continued the hockey-loving tradition Tuesday.
Wilson and her husband recounted their favorite moments of Saturday's title-clinching game against Boston College — from Lerg's "sweet save" to sophomore forward Justin Abdelkader's goal with about 18 seconds left in the game.
The Wilsons weren't the only family affair at the parade. While some idolize Abdelkader, he is just a family friend to the Weatherhead family.
"We've watched him since he was little," Carol Weatherhead said.
As season-ticket holders for the past 15 years, the Weatherheads were born MSU hockey fans.
"We grew up in East Lansing," graduate student Jill Weatherhead said. "We've been fans since we were little."
Standing room only
When the illustrious 1979 MSU basketball team, led by the aptly titled Earvin "Magic" Johnson, knocked off Indiana State to win the NCAA championship, East Lansing resident David Warrington stood on the corner of Abbott Road and Albert Avenue during the team's victory parade.
Nearly 28 years later, Warrington, sporting a scraggly beard that looks as if it hasn't been trimmed since Magic's hey-day, stood in the same exact spot as he celebrated another national title.
"It's a good feeling to be champions again," he said, pausing to acknowledge East Lansing Mayor Sam Singh as he passed down the street in front of him.
"They just really caught fire in the tournament. When the time came for them to be great, they were great."
When MSU returns home with their next national championship, Warrington figures to be on the same street corner, sporting a plastic Spartan helmet and puffing away on his cigarette.
"I've been a Spartan and lived here all my life," he said. "Whenever there is a chance for a parade, I always try to appear."
Old-time fan
As soon as the clock ran out during the national championship game, Chuck Hallman was ready to celebrate. The DeWitt resident decided to haul his family to East Lansing and support the team he has called his own for decades.
"We've always had the best team," Hallman said. "Ever since Amo Bessone was coach, back when we used to go to Dem Hall and watch the games."
Bessone was head coach at MSU from 1952-80.
Hallman downplayed his true excitement of MSU's victory.
"I was happy," he said, bashfully.
Dancing with the stars
Jim and Julie Meyerle had a reason to dance Tuesday.
As the couple tangoed to the sound of the Spartan Alumni Band outside Hannah Community Center, 819 Abbott Road, thoughts of the past champions flashed before the DeWitt couple's eyes.
"It just kind of brings back memories of the great win 20 years ago," said Jim Meyerle, who has been watching Spartans hockey for 35 years. "It's been a great story. Like they've been saying, there's not a lot of individually great players, they've just been working super together."
Wearing a worn Spartans cap, he marveled at the team, the squad's future and his close proximity to former hockey coach and legend, Ron Mason, who greeted fans just yards away.
"Both were magical seasons, and it's too bad it's been 20 years in between," he said.
"We hope there will be another national championship in the next 20 years. Who knows? Maybe next year."
Staff writers Thea Neal, Jacob Carpenter and Matt Flint contributed to this report.
