Tom Izzo returned to his alma mater, Northern Michigan, for a special experience on Sunday. And boy, did it sure deliver!

Izzo, entering his 30th season as the head coach at Michigan State, returned to Marquette in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula to see his jersey retired by NMU. His Spartans also scrimmaged the Wildcats, and he was asked about the meaningfulness of the entire afternoon.

“It’s sentimental. It seems goofy, why do I get my medal? … I think it’s kind of the whole thing that has been done, coming back and doing things for Northern,” said Izzo. “I kind of got (my number) retired for different reasons maybe. I think it’s going to mean a lot to me, and I hope these people just kind of enjoyed themselves. This was a happening.”

The environment inside the Superior Dome, the traditional home of NMU football and soccer, also delivered. Izzo said he was amazed and appreciated the standing room only section with an iconic setting.

“I was amazed. I told Mike Garland… it’s unbelievable. You guys had to be a little moved, right? There were standing room only crowd,” Izzo explained. “Man, reminded me of back in high school when I had 1,000 people in a gym.”

As for the timing of the return to NMU, Izzo admitted some questioned if it was a sign he is about to retire. He disputed that notion and said it was truly about finding a time to get access to the Superior Dome around NMU’s football schedule.

Whether it was an “ego” thing or not, Izzo remained adamant that such a return involve the larger seating capabilities within the Superior Dome as opposed to NMU’s smaller gymnasium.

“We’ve been trying to do it for a few years, to be honest with you. And I had to talk them into the (Superior Dome). I wasn’t coming back to play in a 2-3,000-seat place,” claimed Izzo. “I don’t know why, maybe that’s ego, but I just said ‘Let’s do something different.’ … That was the only reason.

“Some people said are you planning on retiring? Hell no, it’s got nothing to do with that. It’s just I wanted to do it where we got in the dome.”

Regardless of the reasons, it was certainly an afternoon to remember for all in attendance and a great tribute to the legacy of one of NMU’s all-time greats. Now, Izzo will turn his attention to attempting to get Michigan State back to the Final Four for the first time since 2019.