People thought Izzo and Mariucci were more than just friends

A. Isaac Senior Editor

steve mariucci tom izzo People thought Izzo and Mariucci were more than just friends

If you’ve ever watched a MSU basketball game or are at all familiar with college basketball, you know that Tom Izzo and Steve Mariucci are good friends. A point Brent Musburger and ESPN have hammered home to the viewers for years.

Well tonight, in a HBO special about MSU basketball, Tom Izzo jokes about his relationship with former Lions coach Steve Mariucci. Back in college at Northern Michigan, several people thought they were just a bit “too close”.

“I think our parents wondered if we ever were going to go our separate ways,” Izzo said, light-heartedly, in an interview with HBO correspondent Jon Frankel.

Said Mariucci: “I swear to God, yes. People thought we were a little bit too close.”

…Mariucci told Frankel he and Izzo were so close, they often were each others’ dates at team awards banquets.

“Well, I would bring him, he would bring me,” Mariucci said. “Free meal, right? So people started wondering a little bit about us.”

This segment is exactly why people, especially journalists love Tom Izzo. He’s a genuine interview and can laugh at stuff like this. I can’t imagine a Bobby Knight or even a Coach K discussing rumors that they might be gay. Given Knight’s history with the media, that interview would end with a few f-bombs, a game face tirade, and maybe a hunting accident.

I will say this for Izzo though. I am almost positive he regrets this haircut and the European man bag he’s rocking in this picture.

izzo mariucci grand canyon People thought Izzo and Mariucci were more than just friends

Relationship between Tom Izzo, Steve Mariucci raised eyebrows in college {USA Today}

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