Michigan State fans, young and old, embrace Spartans, expectations at annual Midnight Madness

EAST LANSING - Andrew Hart has been standing outside Breslin Center since 3:15 this afternoon.

In a little over five hours, the front doors at the Southwest Harrison Gate will open for the annual Michigan State Midnight Madness basketball event.

Along with his wife, Claudia, and their three children, they have camping chairs, blankets and snacks. Luckily for them, it’s 70 degrees outside.

They knew it would be a long day.

They’ve done this before.

For Hart, this showcase is a must-see. He has never missed one, even though he lives more than 125 miles south in Hamler, Ohio.

“I am a true fan,” Hart smiled. “I bleed green.”

Wearing a gray MSU hoops sweatshirt, matching sweatpants and a white Spartans hat, Hart took full advantage of this adventure to East Lansing. A trip to the bookstore, the Sparty and Magic Johnson statues, and a stroll around the new $20 million Tom Izzo Hall of History were all in order.

More:Gilbert, Izzo introduce fans to the Breslin Center's new Hall of History

He even got a photo with former MSU star Mateen Cleaves.

This season, Hart said, has a different feeling. With super sophomore Miles Bridges staying put and the young core of talent on the MSU roster, Hart said his fandom is at an all-time high.

“We have a strong program,” he said. “With Bridges, I see us going the distance.”

Hart and his family arrived early, but Karin Musser beat them.

Wearing a green MSU hoodie, Musser is bellied up to the silver gate. She is alone, but only because her three grandkids are busy playing. She is the official spot holder tonight.

And this isn’t her first time, either.

“I’ve stood in rain, hot, cold, everything,” she laughed. “This night is definitely circled on our calendar.”

A Haslett resident, Musser always tries to bring her grandchildren, who live in Grand Ledge. She even takes them to Moneyball each summer to see Spartan basketball players do their thing.

Her daughter went to MSU. She hopes her grandkids will follow.

She has no idea where her seats are, but said she always joins the madness to get in the front row by the tunnel that the players run out of. She said her favorite part of the night is seeing Suzy Merchant and Izzo with their teams in a no-pressure situation. She laughed and said it is good for her health — and theirs.

“It’s a time to scream, yell and be happy,” Musser said. “It’s not a nail-biter. No one wins or loses. There is no stress of the buzzer.”

Tom Wernette is a few rows over at the front of the line. He arrived in East Lansing around 2 p.m. He lives in town, but decided to avoid the traffic of the homecoming parade and the dedication of the Hall of History.

He timed it perfectly.

Wernette is sporting a shirt with the words “In Izzo we trust.” There’s a black smudge on one of the z’s. It’s an autograph from the man himself. Wernette said he got the shirt signed when he attended the Carrier Classic in California, a game against North Carolina on the deck of the USS Carl Vinson in 2011.

Wernette worked full-time for the Department of Defense in the Army National Guard for 40 years. He said he “finagled” some tickets.

“Tom Izzo has always showed a tremendous amount of respect for the military,” said Wernette, who attended MSU from 1962-64 before being drafted into the Vietnam War. “In the military, it’s about building a team. That’s what Izzo does.”

Wernette, who is originally from Remus, said the first time he met Izzo was in the Middle East during Desert Storm. He said Izzo came with a traveling team to visit troops. In return, Wernette and his comrades flew a Spartans flag over an embassy in Baghdad. They sent coach a photo and the flag.

As far as basketball goes, Wernette said he is looking forward to another great season. He enjoys meeting fans, players, and of course, reminiscing with Izzo at midnight madness.

“This is a pretty cool event,” he said. “I have been coming for a number of years. I love MSU sports, there’s nothing shady about them.”

Still a few hours from show time, lines are starting to extend into the parking lot. Hundreds of fans are laughing, talking and sharing stories. Chants of "Go Green, Go White" come from the opposite side of the building. Children are throwing footballs and running wild.

Soon, Breslin Center will be filled to capacity with more than 15,000 green-and-white-clad rowdies.  

Of course, the big question on most fans’ minds is what Izzo will be wearing tonight. He has dressed like a superhero, a member of the rock band Kiss and a pilot, among many other things.

More:MSU Madness: Vote for your favorite Tom Izzo costumes from past years

Hart said, “I wonder what he is going to wear tonight? Do you know?”

His wait will last a little longer. I am sure he doesn’t mind.

Contact Cody Tucker at (517) 377-1070 or cjtucker@lsj.com and follow him on Twitter @CodyTucker_LSJ.