Michigan State receives $401M gift from Greg and Dawn Williams for school and athletic department

EAST LANSING, Mich. (AP) — Michigan State has received a $401 million gift from Greg and Dawn Williams, supporting the university's and athletic department's fundraising initiatives with the largest donation to the school and one of the richest in college sports history.

“Their investment in both the university and the future of Spartan Athletics reflects a bold, shared vision for excellence and innovation,” Michigan State University President Kevin M. Guskiewicz said Friday, when the donation was announced at a news conference. "This moment will have a profound impact on generations of Spartans, and we are honored by their confidence in MSU.”

The gift includes $290 million for the athletic department's $1 billion fundraising campaign that was launched this week and promoted by former Spartan star and Basketball Hall of Famer Magic Johnson. Greg and Dawn Williams are also giving $100 million for Spartan Ventures, a non-profit, tax-exempt corporation set up to raise funds for the athletic department.

The donation gives Michigan State’s teams a boost in the new era of college athletics, particularly its struggling football program.

Athletic director J Batt fired coach Jonathan Smith with a $30-plus million buyout on Sunday and hired former Northwestern coach Pat Fitzgerald to an incentive-laden, five-year $30 million contract earlier this week.

“In today’s evolving college athletics landscape, this is a monumental day in the history of Michigan State Athletics,” Batt said. “Greg and Dawn’s commitment will provide the resources required for new levels of competitive excellence and student-athlete opportunities, while charting a new path for the Spartan Athletics enterprise.”

Greg Williams is the co-founder and CEO of Acrisure, a financial technology company that bought the naming rights to the Pittsburgh Steelers' stadium that was formerly known as Heinz Field.

“This commitment reflects our belief that we should give back to our community … and to the place we call home," Greg and Dawn Williams said in a statement. “MSU is not only the face of our community, but the health and well-being of East Lansing depend on a thriving and successful MSU."

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Michigan State donor Greg Williams after the press conference with new football coach Pat Fitzgerald at Michigan State University in East Lansing, Mich. on Tuesday, Dec. 2, 2025. (Robin Buckson/Detroit News via AP)

Michigan State donor Greg Williams after the press conference with new football coach Pat Fitzgerald at Michigan State University in East Lansing, Mich. on Tuesday, Dec. 2, 2025. (Robin Buckson/Detroit News via AP)

BARCELONA, Spain (AP) — British rock star Morrissey won’t perform a concert in Valencia after festivities in the Spanish city kept him from getting a proper night’s rest, the former frontman of The Smiths said Thursday.

A statement posted on Morrissey’s website on the morning of the concert said that the “scheduled show in Valencia has been rendered impossible due to sleep deprivation.”

Morrissey arrived to Valencia on Wednesday after a two-day drive from Milan, but he was disturbed during the night by the festival that included, the statement said, “loud techno singing (and) megaphone announcements” that were audible from inside his hotel room.

“This experience has left Morrissey in a catatonic state,” the statement read.

In another short post on his website, the singer said his night was an “indescribable hell.”

“It will take me one year to recover. And that is an understatement.”

The website added in bold print that “The show is not canceled. Circumstances render the show impossible,” making it unclear if it will be rescheduled or if ticket holders can request a refund.

The 66-year-old Morrissey is touring to promote his album “Make-up Is a Lie,” his first in six years, which was released earlier this month. It is the 14th solo album for the ex-singer of The Smiths, an iconic 1980s rock band.

While loved by his fans for timeless hits such as “How Soon Is Now?” and “Everyday Is Like Sunday,” Morrissey is also known for his temperamental character and wide array of shifting political views. His support of animal rights has made him a fierce critic of Spain's traditional bullfights, for example.

The “Las Fallas” festival in Valencia, a city on Spain’s eastern Mediterranean coast, is famous for its noisy street parties and fireworks. It culminates in the burning of huge, handmade papier-mâché sculptures, which this year takes place on March 19.

UNESCO added Las Fallas to its catalog of intangible cultural heritage in 2016, describes the incineration of the sculptures as “a form of purification” and “social renewal.”

Morrissey stays in Spain for his next two tour dates, playing in Zaragoza on Saturday and Seville on Monday.

FILE - British singer and songwriter Morrissey performs at the Vive Latino music festival in Mexico City on March 17, 2018. (AP Photo/Marco Ugarte, File)