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IRON MOUNTAIN -- March may be over, but Final Four madness was still in the air on Monday, especially in Tom Izzo's hometown of Iron Mountain.

"Everybody's wearing their Michigan State gear, with the basketball hats and sweatshirts and jackets.  It's the topic of conversation here locally," said Tom Clarke, Izzo's former high school basketball coach

Famer's Sports Bar looked quiet in the afternoon, but they were gearing up for a wild night as fans flock to support Izzo and his Michigan State Spartans when they take on the North Carolina Tarheels in the championship game.

"The level of enthusiasm here has been very, very high since everything," said food and beverage manager Denis Witek.  "We have always been supportive of them every single year, and we're very excited to be a part of this event.  The crowd--nobody sits at the bar, everybody stands because the level excitement here, you can just feel it in the air."

According to those who know him, however, Izzo's national fame hasn't gone to his head.

"He's just a natural leader and hard worker and a really friendly person with a great sense of humor," Clarke said

Izzo doens't just push his athletes on the hardwood, either.  He also encourages academics, which is why 83 percent of his players go on to graduate from college.

Izzo is a graduate of Iron Mountain High School and also attended NMU before he moved below the bridge to lead the Michigan State men.  This is his first Final Four championship since 2000 and, though the Tarheels are rated a seven point favorite, the locals have faith in him and the Spartans.

I feel North Carolina isn't going to play their best tonight, so Michigan State is going to win," Clarke commented.

"A lot of people are going to make a lot of good money off of it, because I definitely feel State's definitely going to be the winner," Witek agreed.

Regardless of the outcome, Izzo can be sure that he's made his hometown proud.