The Spartan Nation Turns to Former Football Star Mitch Lyons to the MSU Board of Trustees

 When the dust settled on Wednesday morning, Mitch Lyons yearlong campaign to represent the Spartan Nation as our trustee resulted in a victory. It was

 

Mitch will take his blue collar work ethic that took him to the NFL to help run Michigan State on the Board of Trustees

When the dust settled on Wednesday morning, Mitch Lyons yearlong campaign to represent the Spartan Nation as our trustee resulted in a victory. It was more than a victory for Mitch; it was a victory for Michigan State University. It was a victory for the citizens of Michigan that expect their Land Grant University to stand true to its mission.

 

One of the biggest things that stood out to me as Mitch ran his campaign is that he was willing to learn throughout the process. He listened to the citizens of Michigan. He learned about the Land Grant philosophy and he was the only candidate that campaigned on real issues. This is what won Mitch Lyons his seat on the board. He had an opinion. He put himself out there. He told people where he stood and didn’t apologize for having a strong opinion.

 

The former MSU graduate and Spartan tight end spoke with me about his win. He talked to me about his years as a student and spoke about the impact MSU football had on his life. “Michigan State has shaped my life in so many ways. It has shaped the lives of thousands of people and I look forward to serving the MSU community. MSU football was a character building experience. It showed me how to face adversity and how to function in a team environment. It made me successful in the NFL and also gave me the tools to be successful in life.”

 

Mitch also voiced his support for Michigan State Athletics and will be keeping a keen eye on what happens over at the ‘Duffy’ and the Breslin Center. “I support Coach Dantonio 100%. He has brought stability to MSU football and restored a level of competitive excellence that the MSU community can be proud to call their own.” Having Mitch on the board makes me feel good about the stability of our coaches and our athletic department. Too often trustees and presidents have abused their power and used the football program as a political pawn. This will not happen during Mitch’s tenure. I feel very good about that.

 

Mitch is concerned about escalating costs as well as MSU meeting its Land Grant mission. “The citizens of Michigan have watched their children mortgage their futures to get an education. Tuition continues to rise, while inflation has actually declined or remained flat the last couple years.” He is the first person to talk publicly about these challenges surrounding MSU students and the lack of career opportunities in the face of a horrendous economic recession.

 

“Michigan State’s Land Grant roots are important. The university has a responsibility to the citizens of our state and to serve the needs of the people.” As Mitch makes his transition onto the board in the coming months, he will be looking at a number of ways to address the numerous concerns he heard on the campaign trail. I am proud of the Michigan voters for doing their homework. I am extremely happy for Mitch because he ran a really good campaign that yielded him a victory he deserved. Good luck on your new position. We at Spartan Nation look forward to checking in with you throughout your career. 

When the dust settled on Wednesday morning, Mitch Lyons yearlong campaign to represent the Spartan Nation as our trustee resulted in a victory. It was more than a victory for Mitch; it was a victory for Michigan State University. It was a victory for the citizens of Michigan that expect their Land Grant University to stand true to its mission.

 

One of the biggest things that stood out to me as Mitch ran his campaign is that he was willing to learn throughout the process. He listened to the citizens of Michigan. He learned about the Land Grant philosophy and he was the only candidate that campaigned on real issues. This is what won Mitch Lyons his seat on the board. He had an opinion. He put himself out there. He told people where he stood and didn’t apologize for having a strong opinion.

 

The former MSU graduate and Spartan tight end spoke with me about his win. He talked to me about his years as a student and spoke about the impact MSU football had on his life. “Michigan State has shaped my life in so many ways. It has shaped the lives of thousands of people and I look forward to serving the MSU community. MSU football was a character building experience. It showed me how to face adversity and how to function in a team environment. It made me successful in the NFL and also gave me the tools to be successful in life.”

 

Mitch also voiced his support for Michigan State Athletics and will be keeping a keen eye on what happens over at the ‘Duffy’ and the Breslin Center. “I support Coach Dantonio 100%. He has brought stability to MSU football and restored a level of competitive excellence that the MSU community can be proud to call their own.” Having Mitch on the board makes me feel good about the stability of our coaches and our athletic department. Too often trustees and presidents have abused their power and used the football program as a political pawn. This will not happen during Mitch’s tenure. I feel very good about that.

 

Mitch is concerned about escalating costs as well as MSU meeting its Land Grant mission. “The citizens of Michigan have watched their children mortgage their futures to get an education. Tuition continues to rise, while inflation has actually declined or remained flat the last couple years.” He is the first person to talk publicly about these challenges surrounding MSU students and the lack of career opportunities in the face of a horrendous economic recession.

 

“Michigan State’s Land Grant roots are important. The university has a responsibility to the citizens of our state and to serve the needs of the people.” As Mitch makes his transition onto the board in the coming months, he will be looking at a number of ways to address the numerous concerns he heard on the campaign trail. I am proud of the Michigan voters for doing their homework. I am extremely happy for Mitch because he ran a really good campaign that yielded him a victory he deserved. Good luck on your new position. We at Spartan Nation look forward to checking in with you throughout your career.