EAST LANSING – Tom Izzo remains a football coach trapped inside a basketball coach.
"I love football so much," he said Tuesday following his media day news conference, his eyes exploding with unbridled enthusiasm. "You guys know that. It's really fired me up watching how well our football team's playing. It's great. And it's pushing me harder because I've got to keep pace with them."
Basketball became Michigan State's saving grace. A hopeful remedy for a dreary fall, dimmed even grayer with another disappointing football season. But even Izzo happily concedes Michigan State football now drives the bus.