Jud Heathcote was the coach, but Magic Johnson was the face of Michigan State in 1979.

Johnson went on to become one of the greatest players ever to play the game and remains an iconic figure in East Lansing.

But Magic will be remembered more for his championships with the Lakers than the one with the Spartans. It wasn't his program. And even though Heathcote is the architect and the godfather still to this day, Michigan State has become Tom Izzo's program.

And now, with his pronouncement Tuesday night that he is a Michigan State lifer, Izzo will be synonymous with the Spartans ultimately as much as Duke will be with Mike Krzyzewski, Syracuse with Jim Boeheim, Connecticut with Jim Calhoun and Arizona with Lute Olson.

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