Michigan State’s Midnight Madness set to return after two-year hiatus
Izzo #Izzo
EAST LANSING – When Tom Izzo donned an Incredible Hulk suit to walk onto the Breslin Center floor during Michigan State’s 2019 Midnight Madness event, he had no way of knowing it’d be his last time making a fool of himself for several years.
Michigan State hasn’t held its annual season-kickoff event for the past two years due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The event was canceled in 2020 and held as an open practice in 2021.
But now, Michigan State Madness is back this Friday. And Izzo is ready to get back to his unique entrances, which in the past have included being shot out of a cannon, rappelling down from the ceiling and dressing up as a member of KISS.
“Ride an elephant in, jump out of a building. Whatever they want me to do, I’ll do,” Izzo said after his team’s practice on Tuesday. “But hopefully it’ll be a little more about the guys and what they do.”
This year’s event starts with an autograph session beginning at 8:30 p.m., with the formal program starting an hour later. The men’s and women’s basketball teams will hold introductions and scrimmages, and the school’s marching band and spirit squads will also perform.
Admission and parking to the event (in lots 63, ramp 7 and ramp 79) are both free.
Izzo said he’s particularly looking forward to this year’s event because only a handful of members f his team have participated in one.
And after seeing strong student turnout at Michigan State football games and for the annual Izzone campout last week, Izzo said he’s hopeful that carries over to the Breslin Center.
“I think our fans and our community, I really hope everybody gets out, because I think that’s one of the things you’ve got to do,” Izzo said. “I think football has done a good job getting students back in the stands and our fans back in the stands. We’ve got to do the same thing.”
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