Cheering on the sideline during many of MSU head basketball coach Tom Izzo’s 20 years at MSU have been his children, 14-year-old Steven and communication sophomore, Raquel.
At first, Raquel said she didn’t want to attend MSU, the place where she grew up. She said she wanted to find herself, especially since college is the time to do so.
But she eventually realized MSU is her home and she decided to attend.
The State News talked to Raquel about her favorite part of basketball season, her personal goals for after graduation and her best memories as a student so far.
The State News: Would you say your dad influenced you to apply and then come to MSU? Why or why not?
Raquel Izzo: Yes and no. I honestly didn’t want to come here as a freshman in high school. I’ve been in East Lansing my whole life, I wanted to branch out to do my own thing. My junior year in high school, we were at the Big Ten tournament. I was with my mom sitting in our hotel room and had one of those ‘aha!’ moments and knew this was where I wanted to be.
SN: Has having someone so important to the MSU community as your dad affected your social life, either positively or negatively?
RI: Yes, both good and bad. Only bad because when I was younger, I didn’t know who wanted to be my friend for me instead of who my dad was. I wanted to be normal. But now I’ve realized this is my normal. I don’t know anything else. To me, he’s my dad and to my friends, he’s the guy who cooks chili and makes popcorn. If people find out, they find out, but I don’t make it known who I am. It’s cool to see how kids look up to him as such a big role model. It’s more of a blessing now than when I was younger.
SN: What are some of your goals for after graduation?
RI: I either want to be a sports broadcaster or event planner but I might change my mind. I also want to be involved with the community service stuff my parents are involved in.
SN: What is one of your best memories as a student so far?
RI: I would say getting to know Lacey (Holsworth) and going through the journey with her and Adreian (Payne) and winning the Big Ten tournament last year.
SN: You’re in a sorority, what made you pursue greek life and what do you like about it?
RI: Last year, I was sick with mono(nucleosis) and I wasn’t feeling better until January. I went home a lot and I didn’t meet a lot of people like I wanted to. So, I joined (Chi Omega) to meet people and get involved with community service.
SN: Do you have any funny anecdotes about you and your dad?
RI: I work in the basketball office, so I see him all the time. Sometimes we eat lunch together at the cafeteria in Brody. He’s more on the inside of my life now than when I was in high school. I didn’t think that was how it was going to be. I didn’t know at first if I wanted him to be in my life all the time, because I wanted to find me, but I like it.
SN: Does your family travel with the team for all of the away games?
RI: During the season, I pick one away game to go to. I go to one, just me and him and sometimes my brother. We get that father-daughter bonding time. If this game is on a weekend or close, I might go but it depends with school. I get to go to practice. I’m really close to all the guys on the team. My dad makes it a real big family atmosphere, the guys on the team are like my brothers and it’s always been that way. We’re on the same page now since I’m in college and we get along really great. Sometimes the team comes over for dinner and before they have come over to go trick-or-treating .
SN: What is your favorite part about basketball season?
RI: Definitely going to the games. I’ve always been involved. Last year, the girls in my hall would come to my dorm and see how I would act watching the games. I yell and throw things at the TV.
It’s not just “oh, we lost tonight” to our family, it’s so much more than that. It’s success and working hard to achieve a goal. Appreciating that it’s more than a game is my favorite part.
