Tom Izzo quotes Bo Schembechler on Michigan State’s Senior Day

On Saturday, the Michigan State Spartans’ men’s basketball team faced off against the Ohio State Buckeyes in their final home game of the season. Michigan State went on to win 84-78 over the Buckeyes and improved to 19-11 ahead of this week’s Big Ten tournament. During Michigan State’s senior day, Spartan legend and head coach Tom Izzo had the chance to speak, and turned heads by quoting the late Michigan football coach Bo Schembechler.

Tom Izzo quotes Michigan coach Bo Schembechler

From 1969-1989, the Michigan Wolverines’ football team was coached by Bo Schembechler. Bo is known for shaping the identity of the Wolverines’ program, though recent allegations against him covering up sexual abuse at UM are a dark mark on his otherwise impressive coaching resume. During his time in Ann Arbor, Schembechler won 194 of his 247 games, claiming 13 Big Ten titles during his 21 years on Michigan’s sideline.

Considering Tom Izzo is a Michigan State legend himself, it was odd hearing him (reluctantly) quote Bo Schembechler.

What did Izzo have to say?

Here is Tom Izzo’s quote:

“There’s a process to this whole thing,” Izzo said. “Sometimes it takes longer than others but, I guess it was Bo Schembechler – I hate to say it – but ‘Those Who Stay Will Be Champions’.”

It takes a bold or foolish man to quote any Michigan Man in East Lansing — especially on as big of a stage as we saw during Michigan State’s Senior Day — though if anyone can (and did) get away with it, it would be Tom Izzo.

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