WFNYScott: Tom Izzo Informs Michigan State Players He Plans To Take Cavaliers Head Coaching Position

[elcheato]

Sources close to WFNY have informed us that Tom Izzo has told his players at Michigan State that he plans on taking the Cavaliers job. Our sources have heard directly from players on the MSU team that Izzo informed them this week that he is planning on making the move up to the NBA level under the ownership of MSU grad Dan Gilbert. We have also heard from a separate source that Izzo is holding off on announcing this until the end of the week, when his kids finish up school in the Lansing area. While Izzo could always change his mind, we are comfortable reporting that he has in fact informed his players at Michigan State that he will be taking the Cavaliers job.

More details as we get them.

http://www.waitingfornextyear.com/?p=29584

 

[Mooche]

I am actually kind of surprised that he is making this jump. I thought that he would have maybe liked to coach a few more years at MSU. Oh well, I guess he felt that his time to make the move was now and that it was a good opportunity. Always liked Izzo, best of luck to him.

 

[elcheato]

PDcavsinsider

People in East Lansing tell me Izzo did not tell his players in meeting yesterday he was leaving. Not sure if there was meeting today. half a minute ago via web

So it might not be true, guess we have to wait and see.

 

[Mooche]

So it might not be true, guess we have to wait and see.

Oh, wow.... this might get interesting quick, ha.

 

[Big Bid'Ness]

So it might not be true, guess we have to wait and see.

It better not be true lol.

 

[Pugz]

i havent heard this on the radio yet..

 

[sheed]

Man, I hope this isn't true. The other day he said he wasn't leaving until he won another championship with State. But I guess that was before he was offered $6 million a year...

 

[elcheato]

PDcavsinsider

MSU source: Tom Izzo planning visit to Cleveland on Thursday: http://bit.ly/bcubvT 23 minutes ago via web

 

[elcheato]

Izzo was expected to leave Cleveland at 6, he left at like 10. Good sign?

 

[Mexi]

i guess

i know absolute nothing about Izzo except his wife's name is Lupe

IDK what kind of coach he is since every college game is low scoring and boring as hell, going by the others though, he should stay in Michigan...

 

[elcheato]

All I know is he wins without the most talent, always gets the best out of his guys. Hopefully he runs a better offense then Brown..

 

[Mexi]

college is different though

 

[elcheato]

I know but this would be better then getting Byron Scott and the other average coaches being rumored. More upside with Izzo.

 

[kdogg]

He probably left late because of this lmao

East Lansing -- The guest of honor was a no-show.

But that didn't stop Tom Izzo's admirers, probably around 500 or so, from meeting outside the Breslin Center Thursday night to show their love.

"I-Z ... Z-O," they chanted Michigan State's basketball fans, sensing they're on the verge of losing their Hall-of-Fame-bound basketball coach to the Cleveland Cavaliers, held a pep rally for Izzo.

They brought signs, flowers, candles. A few band members showed up to play the alma mater. Most of the crowd were Michigan State students.

One of them was basketball player Derrick Nix, who will be a sophomore.

"I'm real concerned," Nix said about his coach possibly leaving for the NBA. "I came here because of him and my teammates. It's something to think about. I felt like I had to show up."

Asked if he can imagine Michigan State basketball without Izzo, Nix said, "No, I can't. I can't imagine it."

MSU junior Adam McKay, a Izzone student-section member, was responsible for organizing the pep rally after waking up Thursday to reports that Izzo had gone to Cleveland to meet with Cavaliers owner Dan Gilbert.

McKay said he just had to do something to try to help, to try to show support.

"We've got flowers, candles," McKay said, laughing. "It's turning out to be more of a funeral."

Not really. There were constant cheers for Izzo and for Michigan State.

"I'd be disappointed, I'd be upset (if Izzo leaves)," McKay said. "But he's done so much for us. It's Tom Izzo. How can you be upset with Tom Izzo?"

Daphney McCristal, who will be a freshman in the fall, made the hour drive from White Lake to attend the rally with her family.

"I've got to support Izzo," she said. "We have to keep him. I'm really hoping he stays. I'm praying."

To many Michigan State fans, Izzo is more than a basketball coach. He's the ambassador for the university.

Harriett Dean, a freshman at MSU during the 1979 national-championship season, brought a sign that read "OH NO ... PLEASE DON'T GO IZZO" and placed it on the Magic Johnson statue.

"I would really hate to see him go," Dean said of Izzo. "I grew up in Flint. He took some of those kids under his wing. Some of those kids didn't have father figures. He really helped mold them into the young men they are today.

"He just does so much. He's very unselfish. He's also pretty down to earth. I see him out in public, he's just a regular guy."

Other signs placed around Magic's statue included "MSU HAS ALL THE GREEN YOU NEED," and "LEBRON WISHES HE WERE DURRELL."

The latter refers to LeBron James, the Cavaliers free-agent superstar, and Durrell Summers, a standout for the Spartans.

Another sign said simply: "STAY."

They want him to stay not only because he's taken the Spartans to six Final Fours in the last 12 years.

That's only part of it, the fans insist.

"I'm hoping he realizes he's loved at Michigan State not only for his basketball abilities but also what he means to the community," said Danny Gustafson, a junior at MSU.

"As great a basketball coach as he is, he means everything to this community. When you say Michigan State, people automatically associate that with Tom Izzo. It's important that he sees he matters here. This is his home. It would be a shame if he left. Either way, we'll support him. The guy's going to be a legend in East Lansing for his life."

Cathy Gorwitz, a long-time MSU fan from East Lansing, got a little emotional talking about what Izzo means to her.

"There has been no one who has done more for this community than what Tom Izzo has," Gorwitz said. "He gives so much back to the community. He's so involved with MSU, with Sparrow Hospital, with the Coaches for Kids.

"How many coaches are respected the way Tom Izzo is? He gives an awful, awful lot back to this community that no one knows or no one can appreciate. A finer man you won't find."

 

[elcheato]

Supposedly E-Snow could be an assistant for Izzo if he makes the jump. I think Snow could be a pretty good coach some day.

 

[elcheato]

PDcavsinsider

Source: LeBron James would approve of Tom Izzo's hiring as #Cavs coach. "100 percent" high-placed source tells PD. 5 minutes ago via web

 

[sheed]

Was watching my local news and they confirmed from a source that Izzo is staying at State and that's what the News Conference at 7pm is for.

 

[Mooche]

Damn good news for State. Fans can finally breathe a sigh of relief, ha. The Cavs search continues I guess.

 

[RipCity32]

Ultimately a good choice for Izzo, I can see him making the leap soon though.

 

[Pugz]

Ultimately a good choice for Izzo, I can see him making the leap soon though.

indeed, i can see him going in the next season or two though. cavs should go after byron.