Tom Izzo was not messing around Monday when one of his former Michigan State stars was being an unruly member of the crowd.
The Spartans hosted the USC Trojans during the annual Izzone Alumni Night at the Breslin Center in East Lansing, Mich. Several ex-Spartans attended the event in honor of Izzo, who has served as the team’s head coach for over three decades.
Former Spartans center Paul Davis was among those present for tip-off. But he wasn’t there to hear the final buzzer sound on the Spartans’ dominant 80-51 win over the Trojans. Davis was ejected from the building at around the six-minute mark of the second half, with Izzo himself screaming at the towering 41-year-old to scram.
“What the f–k are you doing? Get out of here!” Izzo shouted at Davis.
Odd moment in Michigan State-USC. After being consulted by the referee, it appears Tom Izzo asks former Spartan, Paul Davis, to leave his seat. pic.twitter.com/rix9qIyEnd
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At one point, Izzo glared at Davis with his arms raised to his sides in disbelief, a moment that would have made legendary Spartan King Leonidas proud.
As a parting gesture to his former coach, Davis stood up and put his hands on his chest before leaving his seat. Izzo noted during his postgame press conference that Davis had said something to an official that “should never” be said.
“What he said, he should never say anywhere in the world,” Izzo told reporters, via Detroit Free Press’ Chris Solari. “And that ticked me off. Just because it’s 25 years later, I’m gonna have to tell him what I thought of it.”
Izzo later clarified that what Davis said had no racial or sexual undertones, but was still worthy of having him tossed.
Davis played for Izzo from 2002 to 2006, serving as Michigan State’s full-time starting center beginning in his sophomore season. Davis averaged 13.2 points and 7.0 rebounds across 130 career games played.
Davis played alongside fellow Spartan standouts Maurice Ager, Shannon Brown, and Alan Anderson. All four went on to play in the NBA.
