Tom Izzo guest stars on new BTN pregame show at Michigan State
EAST LANSING -- Tom Izzo smiled and high-fived fans as he walked to the stage for "BTN Tailgate," a College GameDay-esque pregame show that debuted on the Big Ten Network this morning. .
The newly inducted Basketball Hall of Fame coach had a lot to say when asked at Munn Field how's he's different from Spartan coaching counterpart Mark Dantonio.
"I think the biggest difference is I wear my emotions on my sleeves, when it should be the opposite," Izzo said. "It's easier to hide being an idiot in football."
Fans of all ages played games, ate free food and created signs while awaiting the show leading into the Michigan State vs. Wisconsin game at Spartan Stadium. BTN's Gerry DiNardo, Anthony (Spice) Adams and Dave Revsine hosted the show, and Izzo and Michigan State athletic director Mark Hollis were guests.
The show opened up with a skit by Izzo and Sparty. During the show, Izzo talked about his induction into the Hall of Fame this month in Massachusetts, which he said was "surreal."
"You dream about a lot of things as a coach," Izzo said. "When you coach, you dream of winning championships, you dream of winning the Big Ten and the conference, winning national championships. You don't dream of being in the Hall of Fame, at least I never did. It's something I'll cherish for the rest of my life."
On similarities between himself and Dantonio, Izzo said they both have feisty personalities. Izzo's is more outward while Dantonio's is inward, he said.
"We've complemented each other so well," Izzo said. "I don't know if there's a bigger football fan as a basketball coach than I am. It's because I appreciate and understand how much energy it can bring to the start of our season."
Hollis did a segment with Wisconsin athletic director Barry Alvarez. When asked about how Big Ten teams have performed thus far in the football season, Hollis said he doesn't think there has been a "resurgence" for the conference.
"I don't think it's a resurgence, I think it's a matter of inches," he said. "And we've been there. This has been a great start to the season, and it's going to be a heck of a finish."
Keith Nichol also made an appearance, after a segment on the show highlighting the 2011 Hail Mary that Nichol caught from Kirk Cousins to give MSU a 37-31 victory over the Badgers.
"It's something that keeps you tied to the program, and people keep bringing it up and celebrating it," Nichol said. "It's pretty unique."
Watch this: MSU football's 2011 Hail Mary vs. Wisconsin in LEGOs