ORLANDO, Fla. — It was almost 25 years ago, on a basketball court at the Breslin Center where Nick Saban moonlighted as a hype man. At a February 1995 hoops showdown with the Spartans’ greatest rival, the newly hired Michigan State football coach made a plea to the fans at halftime.
“Before I leave, there's one thing I have to ask of you,” he yelled into a microphone. “In the second half, I want you to be the best fans in America so we can beat Michigan’s ass!