Izzo supports athletics department, calls new logo 'brilliant'
Tweet
Izzo
Editor’s note: Senior forward Raymar Morgan’s year has been corrected in this story.
To all Spartans fans outraged by the new MSU logo, men’s basketball head coach Tom Izzo has a message: Shame on you.
Izzo took time out of his press conference Monday to say he is a huge fan of the logo and he supports Athletics Director Mark Hollis and Nike.
“Of all the days, this would be the dumbest time to talk about it — except I am so disappointed with our group of alums that are complaining about it — that it’s a great time to talk about it,” he said. “It’s a lot bigger than the team, it’s a lot bigger than the program, it’s about our athletics department and university, which to me is way bigger than one game or one season.”
Izzo also applauded Hollis’ relationship with Nike. He added that MSU’s athletics program isn’t as prestigious as others and fans should be thrilled to be involved with such a high-class company.
Video: Izzo on the logo ...
“I give Mark credit because he got in such a good relationship with Nike; they didn’t have to deal with Michigan State yet,” Izzo said. “We’re not where some of their programs are yet as a whole athletics department, but the relationship he got with them has saved this university millions of dollars, and probably made it millions of dollars and we have people complaining — that blows me away.”
Izzo hinted that each MSU team would be connected by the same uniform — as opposed to how each team currently has a different MSU logo.
“Since I’ve been here, we had the Sparty head with the grisly look on shirts, then we had a helmet, then every football coach had an ‘S,’ then a helmet, then an ‘S,’ then a helmet,” he said. “I think we didn’t have an identity. Here we have a guy who has enough courage and a good enough relationship with Nike that they made us one of four or five schools they researched all the way back to Greece to figure out what would be great. Mark did a phenomenal job.”
Although many fans have claimed the new logo is a change from tradition, Izzo questioned what tradition MSU athletics has.
“Somebody tell me, what is our tradition?” he said. “Which one of those different things is our tradition? We’re finally going to have the same color, the same uniforms, the same logo and we are going to be moving into the new century here in the proper way and I’m excited about it.”
Road toughness
Saturday’s win at Minnesota wasn’t just another win for Izzo. To win in come-from-behind fashion on the road is something Izzo thinks his team always can look back to for confidence.
“I said after that game that that’s better than a 15-point win because we knew we were playing a good team, we knew they had a lot at stake, we knew the environment was going to be tough and even the time of the game,” he said. “There were a lot of things that work against the visiting team.”
Izzo pointed to his team’s nonconference schedule — specifically losses at North Carolina and Texas — as a toughness builder for the hostile Big Ten environments.
“When players go through things like that, you do get a little tougher,” he said. “I think you understand it a little bit more so that win helped us in that respect. You’re still going to have to deal with different environments and different styles of play, but I think you have reference points to go back to and I think those reference points are worth a lot.”
Team defense
Despite losing last season’s Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year, Travis Walton, this year’s team is giving up the same amount of points per game.
“I think the most versatile defensive player on our team is (senior forward Raymar Morgan),” Izzo said.
“But I really think (junior guard Durrell Summers) could be and I think (junior guard Kalin Lucas) has the toughness and the nastiness to be.”
Although Morgan might be the team’s best defender, Izzo said every player has improved their individual defense.
“Right now it would be Ray, but unlike last year, we switch a little bit more instead of putting Travis on one guy,” he said. “We don’t feel we have the kind of defender yet, but we’re making some progress toward it. Maybe that’s helped us though because our defensive stats have been better than last year. Maybe it’s almost total team now instead of relying on one guy.”
Commentary
Add your $0.02, go to the comment form or follow the comment feed
Clay
(01/25/10 8:51pm)Report
Sure, a consistent branding across the team/uniforms/mascots as a whole would be nice, the problem that the community has with the logo is how plain it is. It’s a step forward to stick with a brand, color, and font and implement it across everything consistently, but how is changing the logo ONCE AGAIN a step in that direction? What you’re doing is completely throwing out a timeless logo and traditional branding and starting from scratch with a worse brand.
I disagree with you Izzo, you’re not a designer, you’re a coach. If someone were to tell give you a whole new playbook and tell you to toss your own, because it would make relations better with Nike would you do it or be happy about it? Didn’t think you would. So how would you expect the alums and associates connected with MSU to support this decision, when it goes against our own hearts and love of the university?
Aaron
(01/25/10 10:06pm)Report
You gotta believe Izzo knows what he’s talking about regardless of the fact hes not a designer, he makes very good points. Look at the floor in the Breslin, thats Izzo’s doing and thats what the Breslin is known for…If Izzo trusts in this new logo and our new “identity” then I sure do, the man’s a genius.
zt
(01/25/10 10:28pm)Report
How many college teams have Green? Not many.
How many are called Spartans? Not many
We are one of few big name schools to have green and everyone knows MSU as the spartans, or Sparty. So I disagree with the whole identity thing. This is trying to be more edgy, cash in on a new logo, etc etc.
If anything, leave it or bring back the old scruffy sparty!!!!
zt
(01/25/10 10:53pm)Report
And as much as I and everyone else loves Izzo, if the school was getting some fat cash and goods from Nike to change the colors gray and pink, he would support it
Leigh
(01/25/10 11:01pm)Report
Although I am usually a big supporter in what Izzo has to say, he shouldn’t be expressing his ‘disappointment’ in MSU alumni so strongly without having had that same personal connection to this university. I respect his opinion but he needs to respect ours as alumni and, with many of us, lifetime MSU fans.
I don’t know about the rest of you but I’ve not once felt an identity crisis with the current logo. Use what we’ve already got to enforce consistent branding. Don’t change something we clearly all feel so strongly about because it’s going to end up dividing us rather than uniting us with one identity.
Alum from Texas
(01/25/10 11:40pm)Report
Being a practical alum who is willing to listen and contributes monetarily to the university, I’ll support the intention of the new Logo Branding program as clearly expressed by coach Tom Izzo. He communicated the purpose in detail with facts and appealed for common sense to prevail, therefore I will set aside my initial earlier negative comments and “erase” them. We can all talk BLOG talk, but when it comes to MSU and its sports and academic programs we all bleed green and white. Hail to Mark Hollis!!… and all the $$$$$$$$$ he brings in for the overall good of the university.
MSU Alum
(01/26/10 7:08am)Report
I love Izzo…I hate the new logo. Coach is towing the company line on this and supporting his frient Hollis. They need to show us the whole package of changes now, rather than April. If they change the school colors Hollis needs to go.
Jason B
(01/26/10 8:56am)Report
What is this about changing the school colors? I’ve heard that mentioned quite a few times. Is that just people speculating, or has there been word that new colors are part of the package?
Lee
(01/26/10 9:10am)Report
We all know Izzo is the best basketball coach in the land. But, although it is Spartan-blasphemy to say, I don’t appreciate him “scolding” us about our personal opinions.
If Hollis struck a deal with Nike to redesign our logo (and reportedly, our shade of green, too!) of course one would expect Izzo to support him… the man writes Izzo’s paychecks!
I think it was mentioned above, but I somewhat agree that our a unified identity for the athletic department sounds like a nice ideal (although, I must admit I’ve never noticed any sort of lack of coherence between teams). However, changing our logo yet again isn’t the answer.
Izzo was right that we have no century-old logo, as ours has changed quite often. But why can’t we start now with making the current Spartan helmet logo and Block S our forever-logos?
Oh, and DO NOT change MSU Green. I may just whine about a new 300-esque Spartan helmet logo, but I’ll never donate to the university (my alma mater) again if Nike/Hollis messes with the colors!
Ohio Spartan
(01/26/10 9:40am)Report
Izzo makes good points about creating consistency across programs. However, that could be done using the current Spartan symbol. I can’t blame anyone for giving a new look a try – but when 90% off the people think it’s a step back, listen to those supporting your program instead of being “so disappointed” in them. His comments make it sound like money just comes from the sky due to Nike, no, it comes from our wallets. Frankly, I’m tired of hearing about how MSU is not an “elite” school or isn’t deserving of the opportunity to have a corporation making money off it’s fans. I’m a huge Izzo supporter, but if there is any disappoint to be had, it is in his latest comments.
Lee
(01/26/10 9:53am)Report
Agreed, Ohio Spartan.
Let’s not kid ourselves about the requirements for Nike’s attention. TCU is one of the programs to wear Nike’s new football uniforms. Sure, they had a good team this year but TCU isn’t exactly a storied althetic department!
Jenny
(01/26/10 10:29am)Report
I’m not sure why I should be ashamed for not liking the new logo. Nobody said we can’t add another logo, we just don’t want one that’s this ugly! We’ll see how things go when the new logo comes out and nobody’s wearing it.
ZT
(01/26/10 10:42am)Report
Look at TCU’s uni’s and Nike’s poster child, Oregon…. Even look at Miami’s ugly ones… this is what happens when Nike gets freedom to do what they want… MSU is an old school type program, our football uniforms couldn’t be more plain, and I like it that way. Dantonio also designed them that way. I really hope the changes aren’t too big
Ohio Spartan
(01/26/10 11:18am)Report
I also enjoyed the irony of Izzo’s comments about not having a consistent, traditional symbol amidst the backdrop of no less than 10 Sparty heads and 1 plastered to his chest. They all seemed pretty consistent to me. There’s a pretty funny spoof picture of this on FB. Okay, enough of this, Go Green tonight – beat Blue.
Listen to the Press Conference
(01/26/10 11:18am)Report
Izzo wasn’t saying that he’s ashamed in people expressing their opinions or dislking the logo. He’s ashamed of the horrible backlash at certain MSU officials for trying to make the school BETTER on a national level.
You all know him, he’s an awesome guy. I’m sure he welcomes constructive criticism, but blasted him with e-mails saying, “I’m an Alpha Phi and I HATE the new logo! I’ve been here 2.5 years and you’re killing MY TRADITION!” probably won’t work.
Stay classy, don’t be a whiny b.i.t.c.h. before all the details emerge.
Also, GO BLOW, Muck Fichigan!
Jeanne Johns
(01/26/10 12:12pm)Report
Change the uniforms – fine. However, LEAVE OUR CLASSY HELMET LOGO ALONE. That new helmet is just ugly. And it stands for MORE than the athletic department.
Life Member Alumni
Ray Ray
(01/26/10 12:48pm)Report
Raymar’s a Senior, not a Junior.
This is the second mistake I’ve seen today from you guys about years. Come on!
Concerned
(01/26/10 2:07pm)Report
AND HOW MUCH IS THIS COSTING THE UNIVERSITY???
WHAT A REDICULOUS, IDIOTIC, AND EXPENSIVE MOVE TO MAKE, PARTICULARLY DURING HORRIBLE ECONOMIC TIMES.
SURE WOULD LIKE TO KNOW WHO IS RESPONSIBLE AND EXACTLY WHAT THE PRICE TAG ON THIS MORONIC DECISION IS GOING TO BE, NOT TO MENTION ALL THE ITEMS THAT WILL HAVE TO BE REPLACED THROUGHOUT CAMPUS TO COMPLY WITH THE NEW STANDARD!!!
UNBELIEVABLE!!!
kev
(01/26/10 2:16pm)Report
izzo makes out the spartans to be some nerdy guy at a bar that gets all excited when a hot chick (nike) is willing to talk to us… This insults me as a soon to be alumni. In the end, izzo says it himself, it’s all about money. Were selling out to make a quick buck. Disgusting….
Izzo is Not God
(01/26/10 2:55pm)Report
Nice job kissing corporate ass, Izzo. Yeah, a new ugly logo strengthens our school’s identity. How?
Kev < Nerd
(01/26/10 3:48pm)Report
Kev,
You are that nerd you talk about. You also probably went to UofM since you instantly reverted to a nerd story. Your naivety doesn’t excuse the fact that as much as we all love MSU, as an athletic department, we’re not up there with the best.
It’s not a big deal. Anyone who argues that the money we spend on this isn’t worth it doesn’t understand the difference between MSU and North Carolina, Texas, etc.
I would also like to point out that a lot of the MSU boards and sites are being flooded by scUM. They can’t beat us on the court, and they’re trying to get in our team’s head.
It’s a logo, don’t lose sleep over it. Grow up.
Tommy I$$o
(01/26/10 8:05pm)Report
I can’t believe I’m saying this, but, WTF, Tom?
Seriously. You’re a great coach and all, but that new pile of horse excrement you and Holli$ are calling a logo is definitely NOT brilliant. It’s lame, and pathetic, and looks like it was copied from the 1998 version of EA Sports’ NCAA football.
Let me ‘splain something else… out here, in the real world, we get to decide for ourselves what we like, what we’ll buy, what we’ll support, and, most importantly, what is absolute crap. In this case, crap = the new logo and your attitude towards the MSU fans who don’t follow the pathetic company line.
So, if 90% of fans, alumni, and other concerned citizens think the logo sucks, then maybe, just maybe, you and Holli$ should realize that the logo does, in fact, blow giant, hairy, sweaty, smelly arse.
Sure, create a consistent look, but do it with the current logo. Why is that so hard to understand? If need be, gather MSU’s top mathematicians, scientists, and engineers, and have them explain it.
Or, instead of attempting to admonish a good number of MSU supporters, for which you just sound silly, you could try listening to us… DROP THE STUPID NEW LOGO.
Lyle
(01/26/10 10:07pm)Report
First Izzo’s idiotic support of the thug football team, and how well the coaches were handling it. Now his whole hearted endorsement of this sell-out to Nike. The more this guy talks the less respect I have for him.
He gets his millions, probably a big bonus in it if he helps sell the sell-out.
SpartyOC
(01/26/10 11:33pm)Report
Alum from Texas, the last time I saw someone flip flop so fast, he was standing at a mic putting on a Minnesota Vikings cap! I like most Spartan fans appreciate and respect Coach Izzo’s opinion on this matter. However, I am not going to let his comments suede my opinion on this logo deal! Don’t F with tradition. The scruffy sparty was not a logo. It was a depiction of our mascot. There is a distinct difference. Please refrain from further flip flopping. That is all!
turkish presence
(01/27/10 6:23am)Report
Because of all these traditional non-sense, we stand where we are right now, and can not move forward. Our colors (green and white) are clearly horrible match and not fashionable at all, would you be proud of seing people wearing our jerseies globally or be stucked in EL? I would love to see our school apperal sold everywhere with a great interest. This is a well designed marketing project, if a change is for a good cause, we all need to support and I do support 100%. This could bring a great reputation around the world too.
Best of all from Turkey