Tom Izzo is Michigan State's basketball coach, but his name was bandied about for the Spartans' football job as well, according to Brian Hoyer. (AP)

While Patriots backup quarterback Brian Hoyer — a Michigan State product — is second in his NCAA pool to teammate Julian Edelman, he feels pretty good about the Spartans chances heading into the Final Four this weekend. After all, having Tom Izzo at the helm of your team can inspire that kind of confidence.

Izzo has delivered Michigan State to six Final Four appearances in 12 years and a national title in 2000. This is the second consecutive year the Spartans have reached the Final Four.

“He’s awesome,” Hoyer said of Izzo, who will lead Michigan State against Butler on Saturday. “He’s good friends with coach [Mark] Dantonio, so he came and talked to us before a few games. He gets you fired up, man. He’s a great coach, and it’s proven with the last couple years. Last year, getting to the championship game. Now, the Final Four again. Just a great guy. I know they love him up there, and he was awesome to have around our football program.”

In fact, Izzo is so well respected at Michigan State that when the Spartans fired head football coach John L. Smith after the 2006 season, there was some talk that Izzo should also be named the football coach.

“That’s how respected he is up there,” Hoyer said. “They’re like, ‘Yeah, he went to college with [Steve] Mariucci. He’s figure it out. He’ll know how to do it. He’s such a good coach.’ It was kind of crazy, but you know he’s been in that position before. He’s successful at what he does, so I guess it wasn’t that crazy for them to throw it out there.

“He’s a Michigan State man. I don’t think he’ll ever leave there. I know there’s been some rumors thrown out, but he loves it up there and they love him.”