░ E░a░s░t░ ░ L░a░n░s░i░n░g ░M░I – Michigan State University is in mourning today after receiving devastating news. Legendary head coach Tom Izzo released a serious and heartfelt message on behalf of the university following a senseless act of violence that has had a profound impact on the Hortman and Smith families. What was once a campus famed for its unity and Spartan pride is now filled with grief, introspection, and a plea for healing.
“Our hearts are heavy with today’s tragic news,” Izzo remarked. “Michigan State University sends its heartfelt condolences and prayers to the Hortman and Smith families. We express love, strength, and condolences to all family members, friends, and everyone else impacted by this horrible tragedy.”
Izzo, widely regarded as Michigan State’s emotional and spiritual lifeblood, appeared obviously affected as he spoke to media outside the Breslin Center. His voice quiver, not with the passion he is known for in court, but with pain and sympathy for two families and a traumatized town.
Friends describe the Hortman and Smith families as kind, kind, and generous, but they are now the faces of an unspeakable tragedy that has shaken not only the MSU community but the entire city of East Lansing. Students, professors, alumni, and community members are gathering across campus to drop flowers, light candles, and give quiet prayers.
“We’re not just mourning individuals,” Izzo explained. “We are mourning lost futures, wasted potential, and the cruelty of violence that takes lives and crushes the hearts of those who remain behind. These were sons, daughters, friends, and students whose lives mattered greatly.”
A minute of silence was observed in all athletic departments, and student leaders are organizing a candlelight vigil at Spartan Stadium. The university’s counseling centers have extended hours, while local churches and mental health organizations are providing free bereavement assistance.
Izzo, who has always stood tall for his players, his program, and the MSU family in times of difficulty, is urging Spartans everywhere to unite with compassion and resolve.
“It is not only about wearing green and white. This is about embodying the Spartan principles of togetherness, empathy, and solidarity amid difficult circumstances. To the Hortman and Smith families, know that you are not alone. You are surrounded by thousands of people who are praying for you.
The impact of this tragedy extends beyond the university. Alumni chapters across the country have begun to organize memorial funds, and Big Ten colleges have shown sympathy with Michigan State during this time of grief.
As East Lansing embarks on the long, tough journey toward healing, Tom Izzo’s comments serve not just as a statement, but also as a call to action: to love louder, to defend one another, and to never take a day for granted.
Spartans will. Even during the darkest night. Spartans around the world are grieving, remembering, and standing together today in honor of the Hortman and Smith families.