My latest out of class story, enjoy

The Izzone is the rowdy student section that makes its presence known at every Michigan State Spartan basketball game.

The Izzone is the student section at Spartan basketball games. They fill the most of the lower bowl and the upper decks with a sea of rowdy students wearing their white Izzone shirts.
The Spartan student section has been called the Izzone for about 15 years now, when Tom Izzo took the reigns as head coach of the Spartans, according to Justin Wojtkowiak, associate direct of the Izzone.

The Izzone creates an atmosphere like no other. Whether it’s putting your arms around the people next to you during starting lineups and move side to side as the team does in their huddle, or it’s jumping up and down and yelling when the opposing teams is on offense, the Izzone makes it’s presence felt at every Michigan State home game, according to Ben Himelhoch, associate director of the Izzone.

But what does it take to be an Izzone member?

For starters, you must attend the Izzone Campout to be lower bowl eligible, according to Himelhoch.
Also, fans of the opposing team can’t sneak their way into the Izzone. Shirts of the opposing team are banned from the Izzone, according to Himelhoch.

Izzone members with lower bowl tickets line up hours before game time to ensure they get the best seat possible in the lower bowl.

“Getting rowdy and belligerent is what makes the Izzone great,” according to senior fourth year Izzone member Matthew Smith.

Crowds have huge effects on college basketball games. Home court advantage can be the difference in a close game. Whether the crowd rallies the team, or distracts the opposition, a strong crowd can be the difference in any basketball game.

“A strong student section is essential in college basketball. The passion, energy, and enthusiasm can be a great aid in helping the home team win,” said Himelhoch, “Coach Izzo has said countless times that we are responsible for at least 4 to 6 points per game and more than likely about two wins per season. This is pretty significant in a brutal Big Ten conference where every game is important”

A strong student section pumps up the home team and energizes both the players and coaches, according to Wojtkowiak.
“I know for a fact that Coach Izzo and the players would like the Izzone to be as loud as possible,” said Wojtkowiak, “The louder we are the more amplified the players are for the games.”

However, the reputation of the Izzone is known by more than just those who are in it at every Michigan State basketball game, it garners the attention of collegehoops.net.

Writer Dan Daitchman, a Marquette alum and Marquette basketball blogger, “Stuck in 1977,” made a top ten list of the best student sections in the country.

Where did Daitchman rank the Izzone? Daitchman and the writers at colelgehoops.net put them third behind Kentucky and Duke, according to an article written by Daitchman
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“The Izzone is right up there with the best of the student sections. I don’t think anybody will second-guess you if you say that The Izzone is the best student section in the Big Ten,” said Daitchman.

The Izzone is one of the most intimidating student sections in college basketball. The fans are always into the game, and MSU has one of the largest student sections in the country.

“I not only watch college basketball on TV any chance I get, but I also study student section videos on ‘YouTube,’” said Himelhoch, “I think the Izzone is as good, if not better, than any other student section in the country.”

Home court advantage is crucial in any basketball game. The Izzone gives MSU an edge at home that other teams don’t have.
The Izzone may not be the loudest; that belongs to New Mexico, according to Daitchman. Their arena, “The Pit,” is built underground, aiding the acoustics of their wild crowd.

They may not be the most creative, that belongs to Gonzaga, who researches everything about opposing schools and players, from player grade point averages to team academic standards, they use any dirt they can find to make their insults as creative as possible, according to Daitchman.

However, the Izzone is right up they’re with these other schools, according to Daitchman.
“They may not be the clear-cut leader in any of these three categories, but they’re top-5 in all of them, which makes them a top-tier student section,” said Daitchman.

The Izzone makes it’s presence felt. They make opponent miss free throws and cause careless mistakes by rattled opponents. They have the qualities of a great student section, according to Daitchman.

“What makes a strong student section have an impact on a game is that they will directly affect the outcome of the game,” said Daitchman, “Causing a player to miss the first free throw of a one-and-one down the stretch can easily translate to a W for the home team.”

Here's the video I shot with the story.