Tom Izzo says he hasn’t been ‘turned on’ in 25 years and the NCAA Tournament just doesn’t do it for him anymore

Drew Smith
March 27, 2025
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Twenty-five years. That’s how long it’s been since Tom Izzo last hoisted a national championship trophy and apparently, the last time he’s felt anything.

I regret to inform you that according to 70-year old Tom Izzo himself, winning NCAA Tournament games just doesn’t do it for him anymore.

Tom Izzo hasn’t been ‘turned on‘ in 25 years.

NEW: Tom Izzo on winning NCAA Tournament games:

“Once you win a national championship, winning a tournament game means nothing… it doesn’t turn me on.”

(h/t @DanWolken) https://t.co/QzFlWhop73 pic.twitter.com/T99p6S8VTi
— On3 (@On3sports) March 27, 2025

“Once you win a national championship, winning a tournament game means nothing… it doesn’t turn me on.”

Now I don’t want to overreact here — but has it really been 25 years since Tom Izzo has been turned on? On one hand, it makes sense. The man is 70 years old. The fire that once burned bright in his loins for a gritty Round of 32 win against Florida Atlantic might just not be there anymore. Totally understandable.

But have you watched a sports podcast in the last 18 months? Every single one is sponsored by Roman, BlueChew, HIMS, Nugenix, Alpha King, Big Barry’s Baller Boner Blend — you name it.

These companies exist exclusively to turn 70-year-old men into walking vats of testosterone again. Tom Izzo could fix this problem in 24 hours and be back to yelling at refs with a half-chub by the Sweet 16.

And if that doesn’t work? There’s always the pharmaceutical Plan B: Ecstasy in the gatorade.

Next time Izzo starts slamming that white Gatorade on the bench, sneak in a little party favor. Just a light sprinkle of MDMA.

By the second half, a fast break layup by his backup point guard will have him tearing up and hugging random students in the tunnel. He’ll be out there talking about how the NCAA Tournament is “so beautiful” and how “we’re all just one big team in this universe, man.”

Boom — just like that Tom Izzo will be feeling young and ripe yet again.

I do have to say that Izzo being at Michigan State and being turned on by college athletics is a dangerous path to travel. We all know what happened to that scumbag gymnastics guy Larry Nassar. Izzo might be better off being old and celibate.

In all seriousness, this is the ultimate “old man who’s seen too much” quote. This is what happens when you reach the top of the mountain way too early in your career — you lose the thrill of the climb.

Tom Izzo won a title in Year 5, made a habit of Final Fours, and now he’s just kinda numb to the whole thing. Winning a tournament game doesn’t light his fire anymore. It’s like asking a Michelin-star chef to get excited about microwaving a hot dog.

If Michigan State makes it to the Elite Eight this year that magic drink will start looking suspiciously spicy. Tom Izzo might just surprise us all and show up to his postgame presser at full staff, saying how that win really got him going.