Michigan State University Athletics
Spartan Basketball Kicks Off 2010-11 Season With Midnight Madness
10/16/2010 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Oct. 16, 2010
EAST LANSING, Mich. - The 2010-11 Michigan State basketball season got underway Friday night, and into Saturday morning, in grand fashion at the Breslin Center. A sold out crowd, for the second-straight year, was treated to a surprise appearance from a movie star, the women's team coming out on motorcycles, a space landing by Tom Izzo, a banner raising and high-energy entertainment from the Spartan dance team, cheer, drumline and band.
The first of many rousing ovations of the night came when `300' star Gerard Butler was welcomed to center court by Coach Izzo. To the delight of the capacity crowd, he voiced the battle cry, "Spartans, what is your profession?" before addressing his fellow Spartans.
The introduction of the women's basketball team followed, as each player made their way to the court on the back of a motorcycle. As the team gathered at midcourt, head coach Suzy Merchant entered on a Spartan motorcycle, dressed as a racecar driver.
Similar to years past, the men's squad made their way down from the concourse one-at-a-time, to set the stage for Coach Izzo. The night's MC, Jason Colthorp, asked the crowd to raise their cell phones to act as stars in the dark Breslin Center. A video played to the theme of The Jetsons, as Coach Izzo boarded a "spaceship" at his house and made his journey to Houston for the Final Four. After making his way into the arena in his "spaceship," Izzo stepped out dressed as an astronaut and planted a Michigan State flag above the 2011 Final Four logo at midcourt.
Soon after, the 2010 Final Four banner was raised to the rafters to honor last season's run to Indianapolis.
The night concluded with scrimmages by the men's and women's teams, as Spartan fans got their first taste of what to expect from the 2010-11 teams.
