EAST LANSING – Tom Izzo said he called meetings with Michigan State basketball players and coaches to discuss social injustice. That grew into three discussions.

Out of it, the Spartans decided to make their statement with a T-shirt.

Izzo said the front will read: “We Talk, We Listen.”

On the back, Izzo said, will be a quote from star sophomore Miles Bridges: “It’s Not About Me, It’s About Us.”

“Our hope is that our T-shirt will inspire others to have conversations,” Izzo said.

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Izzo said the Spartans will stand during the national anthem with their hands over their hearts. His players and coaches, he said, believe they can “start conversations locally” about social issues “and we also understood that doing nothing doesn't help.”

"We're not trying to capture the moment,” Izzo said, “we're trying to create a movement.”

MSU's T-shirt idea comes as more athletes are being scrutinized for using the national anthem as a means to protest perceived social injustices in America.

The NFL has been at the center of conversation, as several football players — and sometimes entire teams — have decided to kneel during the anthem this season.

The trend began in 2016, when former San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick chose not stand for the anthem during the NFL preseason.

Contact Chris Solari: csolari@freepress.com. Follow him on Twitter @chrissolari. Download our Spartans Xtra app for free on Apple and Android devices!