Earlier this month, three people were killed in a shooting on the Michigan State University campus.
The deadly attack forced the school to cancel classes for two days, as well as a men’s basketball game against the University of Minnesota.
The Spartans played again on Saturday against archenemy Michigan in Ann Arbor. But the two squads put their rivalry aside to unite in the wake of the tragedy.
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Michigan State Spartans head coach Tom Izzo walks onto the court to play the Michigan Wolverines at Crisler Arena on February 18, 2023 in Ann Arbor, Michigan. (Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)
Michigan players wore warm-up jerseys that read «MICHIGAN BASKETBALL GRADES WITH MSU», and green lights lit up the Wolverines’ arena.
«It’s a hateful rivalry. It’s what rivalries are supposed to be. But I give a lot of credit to the University of Michigan,» Izzo said in «Know Mercy» with Stephen A. Smith. «[Michigan head coach] Juwan Howard called me just as it happened: they banned together, they honored us there, their big night, their big game, they wore jerseys.
Jett Howard #13 of the Michigan Wolverines warms up in a jersey that reads ‘Michigan Basketball stands with MSU’ before a college basketball game against the Michigan State Spartans at Crisler Arena on February 18, 2023 in Ann Arbor, Michigan. The Michigan Wolverines paid tribute to the students who died in a mass shooting at Michigan State University earlier in the week. (Aaron J. Thornton/Getty Images)
MICHIGAN STATE ALUMNI, DIRECTED BY MAGIC JOHNSON, LUNTAN TIRE ‘TRAGIC’ AT SCHOOL
«And I told Juwan afterwards, I said, ‘Man, we should get our athletic directors and presidents together and send them to Washington. Maybe we can get the Democrats and Republicans on the same side because if Michigan and the state of Michigan can be in side on something like this, why can’t the rest of our country do it?'»
Izzo added that «things are more political than what’s right and what’s wrong,» and since he’s soon to be a grandfather, he fears for the net generation.
«I fear for my first grandchild. I fear for a lot of people. When you talk about being in a preschool and elementary school, and you have to have gun seminars and run away from seminars, what are we doing? It’s not right.»
During their game against Ohio State on Monday, members of the women’s basketball team wore jerseys with the Spartans logo with a large heart encircling it.
Michigan Wolverines women’s basketball players are seen wearing special jerseys in support of Michigan State University before a college basketball game against the Ohio State Buckeyes at Crisler Arena on February 20, 2023 in Ann Arbor, Michigan. The Michigan Wolverines paid tribute to the students who were killed or affected by a mass shooting at Michigan State University the previous week. (Aaron J. Thornton/Getty Images)
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The shooter has been identified as 43-year-old Anthony McRae, who was found dead off campus from an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound.