Leave it to John Beilein to put things into perspective. After the spat between Michigan and Michigan State regarding the pre-game scuffle and post-game comments, the Wolverines basketball coach had to shed some light on the softer side of the in-state rivalry.

Beilein recently underwent double-bypass heart surgery, a procedure that caught the attention of several other professionals in his field. While the UM hoops coach was recovering, he received plenty of cards and well wishes from around the community, both Ann Arbor and in coaching.

One of those was from Michigan State head basketball coach Tom Izzo.

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“There’s a lot of respect that Tom and I have for each other,” Beilein said. “And so that’s really good.

But Beilein was surprised by another Spartan who sent him a thoughtful card. It was head football coach Mark Dantonio.

“Mark Dantonio sent me a really, really nice card and a note on it,” Beilein said. “A good note on it. It wasn’t like, ‘Hey, get well soon.’ It was like a long note. I don’t know Mark Dantonio at all. Really. I just talked to him one time. And that was really nice of him.”

Beilein said he received plenty of good wishes from other coaches across the B1G as well.

So while Michigan and Michigan State continue the back and forth from Saturday, it’s important to remember that there’s not only venom between the two schools. Sometimes, there can be a love in a rivalry. It’s just hard to see on gameday.

“We’re all gonna talk about the he-said, she-said and all this stuff that can happen,” Beilein said. “I think we all wish the best for each other. But we do have rivals out there and things happen.”