Students line up in the early afternoon in anticipation for the basketball game against the University of Michigan on Tuesday outside of Breslin Center. The tip-off will be at 9 p.m.
On a cold, gray morning in East Lansing, as snow intermittently fell from the sky, MSU students huddled together under the eaves of Breslin Center’s Gate A, awaiting the start of MSU vs. U-M.
That the game wouldn’t start for another several hours was of no concern to them.
“When I pictured coming to MSU, this (game) was one of the things I thought of,” kinesiology sophomore Andrew Rademacher said. “It’s being part of something bigger than yourself.”
Rademacher said he arrived at Breslin around 1 p.m., but he was late to the party compared to others. Nutritional science junior Jon Weiss said he got in line at 8:30 a.m., and he wasn’t even the first one there. Rumors that some students got in line Monday night could not be confirmed, but Weiss said he thought the earlier arrivals had been there for a while.
The prospect of getting as close to courtside as possible for the game led those who had gathered at the gate to disregard petty concerns such as the sub-freezing temperatures and, of course, classes. Rademacher said he finished with class early enough that he didn’t have to make a choice, but admitted he would have skipped if he felt he had to.
Marketing freshman Ben Labadie had no qualms about admitting he should be in class, but instead arrived at noon to camp out with his macroeconomics textbook instead for the chance to be a part of what he called a “Final Four-like” atmosphere.
While Labadie admitted the cold was an issue, he said he wasn’t worried. He and his friends had weathered the dismal conditions to sit in the front row when MSU football played Iowa last October, so they were prepared.
“We’re used to sitting outside,” he said with a smirk. “This is nothing compared to (the game against) Iowa.”
MSU head basketball coach Tom Izzo even stopped by to greet the hundreds of Izzone members toughing out the winter weather for premium seating. Stopping for pictures and handshakes, it made the wait worthwhile for the loyal fans.
Labadie, Rademacher and Weiss all said they made sure to dress in layers, but their general attitude was that the cold was just something you had to deal with.
“Just (kind of) keep moving,” Weiss said, with a shrug.
James Madison freshman Katie Cox said she and her friends had come prepared with multiple sleeping bags and blankets, and plenty of reading material to pass the time.
“I wanted to make the most of (having lower bowl seats as a freshman),” Cox said. “I made a bucket list and this game was on it. We want to say ‘We were there.’”
Weiss said he thinks the Spartans will win “for sure,” and can’t wait to see the crowd.
“The Izzone won’t let the environment fizzle out,”
he said.
Support student media! Please consider donating to The State News and help fund the future of journalism.
