SYRACUSE N.Y. Michigan State football coach Mark Dantonio was at Breslin Center to welcome home Tom Izzo and the basketball team Sunday night after the Spartans had advanced to the Final Four.
Curtis Blackwell Michigan State's director of college advancement and performance said that not only was Dantonio pleased for his friend but the football coach recognized the boost Izzo's basketball team has given football recruiting.
When I was looking at social media I saw many individuals talking about our basketball program and our great school '' Blackwell said. Whenever you get a chance to show the world that Michigan State is having success in this competitive landscape it helps you get even more brand recognition.
So you've got a football team with a top five finish and now a basketball team in the Final Four and there aren't any other programs that can say that.''
Michigan State is the only program that can boast winning four straight bowl games in the same years as advancing to four consecutive Sweet 16s.
Blackwell said many of the football recruits have taken note of the basketball team's success because they feel connected having attended Spartan basketball games while on unofficial visits over the past couple of years.
Everyone knows the story of our basketball team and several individuals have come on campus and experienced the games so there is a connectivity '' Blackwell said. They have seen some of the painful losses as well as the wins so they see how the team remained unified and made this great run to the Final Four.
This is why it's important to get people on campus so they can know the story of how the Spartans compete and become connected and identify with it.''
Blackwell continued I think it's a remarkable thing that the Big Ten will be represented with two teams in the Final Four and the state of Michigan will be represented. This game will have the whole state watching the Spartans play and be the biggest thing happening in the state this weekend.''
Blackwell said it's his hope Michigan State can honor or tie in the basketball team with the Spartans' April 25 Green White football game at Spartan Stadium though no plans have been addressed.
Tom Izzo had Mark Dantonio speak to the Michigan State crowd at the Breslin Center tonight. pic.twitter.com/peOboRD4UX
Brad Galli ( BradGalli) March 30 2015The two who have made Michigan State an elite program in both sports RT seideljeff Dantonio greets Izzo pic.twitter.com/zxrWK5G2Nw
Adam Rittenberg ( ESPNRittenberg) March 30 2015
What college has a better football coach and basketball than Michigan state none
Trae Waynes ( TWaynes_15) March 29 2015
Chills chills chills.. It's a great day to be a Spartan GoGreen FinalFour wow
Connor Cook ( Connor_Cook03) March 29 2015
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