Sunday morning, MSU fans gathered outside the Duffy Daugherty Football Building to welcome four buses carrying the Big Ten champion Spartan football team back to East Lansing.
Watching their heroes arrive home victorious was a seminal moment for many longtime Spartan fans, a number of whom brought their children to share in the celebration of the season.
The Kohuth family was one of those young families who came out to watch the triumphant Spartans arrive.
Lisa and Greg Kohuth are MSU alumni who still live right down the road from the university in East Lansing.
They have seen the ups and downs of the Spartan football team throughout the years from up close, and are excited to see the program advancing to new heights.
“It’s just really amazing the way they’ve grown since coach Dantonio has been here,” Lisa Kohuth said. “They just never give up, keep going. The “reach higher” (slogan), they’re definitely doing that. It’s just great to be raising our children in this community with such a positive program.”
Their children, Evan and Emmaline, are being brought up in the Spartan tradition. Evan was excited to get an autograph from Connor Cook as he exited the bus. Growing up around MSU and enjoying such transcendent athletics has inspired the Kohuth children’s hope to follow in their parents’ footsteps and become Spartans.
“My son already wants to play football or basketball here,” Lisa Kohuth said. “They love to go to as many home games as they can. They just love being close to this campus and the environment. We wouldn’t have it any other way. We’re both alumni and hopefully our two kids will be someday.”
Alfredo Sifuentes, Francie Zarate and their son Jacob were among the first to arrive at the Duffy Daugherty Football Building.
Sifuentes, who has watched the Spartan program grow over the years, believes MSU football still has room to grow.
“The program has come a long way, and it’s still not where we’re going to be,” Sifuentes said. “We’re getting there.”
Sifuentes was optimistic when asked about the Spartans’ chances in the College Football Playoff.
“There’s no turning back,” Sifuentes said. “This is our chance. This is our year.”
Some students were also present to welcome their classmates home.
James Madison College freshman Noah Isaak was among them. He was similarly optimistic about the Spartans’ playoff hopes, especially after the team’s performance in Saturday’s win.
“That last drive was amazing,” Isaak said. “I don’t think I’ve ever seen a drive as long as that. I think it shows the grit and the toughness of this team, mental toughness. I think this game showed that we can hang with any other team.
“We’re not ever going to get blown out. We’ll always have a fighting chance to win.”
