More than 40 of MSU’s most faithful fans stood outside in 19-degree weather to greet the Spartans after they topped Ohio State in the Big Ten Championship Game on Saturday night, 34-24. Director of Regional Market Development Nicole Noll-Williams said in her nine and a half years at CRIA, an event of this kind has never happened.

Linda Ream, Cody and Dylan’s grandmother, was eager for the trio to share their support for the Big Ten’s Rose Bowl representative.

“(We just) want to welcome them home, because that’s the greatest thing ever,” Linda Ream said. “We just wish there was a bigger crowd.”

Although smaller than airport officials expected, the crowd weathered the cold and gave the Spartans a warm welcome home by echoing countless “Go Green, Go White” chants as the players were walking off the plane and toward their buses.

The man who corralled the loudest cheer was head coach Mark Dantonio, who briefly spoke with media and fans before boarding the bus.

“Spartan Nation has been awesome, and it’s just so exciting to be down there at the game last night,” Dantonio said. “It’s a special day … We try to make life moments for our players, and I think we’re doing that.”

It wasn’t just the players soaking in the life moments — it also was the fans sporting green and white taking in the scene.

“It’s a long time coming. The ‘little brother’ thing is finally maybe over,” 1985 alumna Jodi Woznick said.

Woznick, who watched the game from her Grand Rapids home, pointed to coaching as the reason MSU football is making its first Rose Bowl appearance in 26 years.

“My mom and I were joking how whenever a new coach would come on we would say ‘OK, this is it, Bobby Williams is awesome,’ and it didn’t quite work out that way,” she said. “It is good to see some Izzo-like coaching. I just have great respect for what they respect out of their players.”

The gridiron Spartans also have done more than give pride to their school — they are bringing attention to the Lansing area as well. Blake Engstrand, who has lived in Lansing for more than 15 years, said the Green and White are giving the area something to rally behind.

“It just makes me proud to be from Lansing, it makes me proud to live here,” he said. “It gives me a school to represent, it gives me a school I can really be proud of.”

Maybe the most surprising member in the welcoming crowd was Grand Ledge resident Patricia Sharp, who comes from a fanbase that isn’t always welcome around MSU supporters.

“I graduated from the University of Michigan, so I’m a Michigan fan really,” Sharp, who wore a green sweater, said. “But I find it very, very exciting that Michigan State won the Big Ten championship and kicked Ohio State’s butt.

“I came out just to let those young men know that people are excited and happy.”