The crowd amps up when she is shown on the big screen. She stands up throughout the games dancing and spinning her scarf. Retired MSU teacher education professor Janet Alleman is an all-around Spartan fan.
“When I go to any game, I don’t just sit. If I want to just sit, I’ll just stay at home,” Alleman said. “Somehow I think that my involvement contributes.”
Alleman has attended every home men’s basketball and football game for as long as she can remember — even since the Spartans played at Jenison Fieldhouse. In addition to her spot in section 109 in Breslin, she travels to watch the team at the Big Ten Tournament every year and every time the team makes it to the Final Four. If MSU was to play the University of Iowa, her undergraduate university, her heart would be with the Spartans.
“I’m a turncoat from my alma mater because I’ve just been around (MSU) forever,” Alleman said.
After her husband died a few years ago, her niece, Amy Jamison, assistant director of Center for Gender Studies in Global Context at MSU, accompanies her to all of the home games.
Jamison said Alleman gets stopped on the street and at Wharton Center by people who do not know her, but have seen her on the big screen.
“I know that she loves that idea that she could be inspiring other people to show their pride and spirit,” Jamison said.
Years ago, Alleman heard men’s basketball head coach Tom Izzo say, “The crowd can give us 10 points.” This is when she pumped up her enthusiasm at the games.
She jokes this year it’s stretched.
“In my world, we take every seat out of Breslin and we’d all be standing up,” Alleman said. “I’m there to support that team and our winning. I’m not there to get on the big screen.”
Natural resources recreation and tour sophomore Kevin Rubino is an Izzone member and has seen Alleman on-screen at games and has spoken with her at their local YMCA.
“She is very passionate about MSU basketball and she even told me she does her dancing at the games because other people aren’t being enthusiastic like they should,” Rubino said. “I think she’s a good representation of MSU and think we need more fans like her.”
It’s not just about athletics for Alleman. She considers herself a “triple A-er” — academics, arts and athletics.
She spent 20 years at MSU researching children’s thinking and teaching social studies education to both undergraduates and graduates.
“I loved every moment of my time (at MSU),” Alleman said. “The reason that I chose to make an exit was because my classes were going online — I am high touch, no tech.”
Her time at MSU ended in 2012 when she “refined” her career to becoming a teacher coach for local primary schools. She focuses on working with teachers in how they can become more effective in their classrooms and how to keep all students engaged.
“It isn’t work for me because it’s art,” Alleman said. “I have this belief that people have so much capacity and that one of my jobs, one of my missions, is to bring that out for them.”
She has enthusiasm that can’t be contained, Jamison said.
“It’s part of being a part of a great university — being an active participant. I’m not very good at being a bystander about anything. I approach everything with a lot of passion and intensity,” Alleman said.
