Pat Fitzgerald, hitting the ground running: What to expect in the coming days
Pat Fitzgerald is already getting to work as the new head football coach - what should fans expect in the coming days?
Michigan State, for the third time since 2020, is walking into a new era for its football program. After the firing of head coach Jonathan Smith on Sunday, Athletic Director J Batt and President Kevin Guskiewicz moved with lightning speed to secure their next man.
When Pat Fitzgerald first emerged as the presumed coach-in-waiting, and then was formally announced by the school on Monday afternoon, the reaction across the Michigan State community was mixed.
Concerns ranged from his recent record at Northwestern and the hazing scandal that led to his dismissal, to genuine excitement about his Big Ten pedigree and the way he once turned Northwestern into a consistent winner. Just about every possible opinion was represented.
On Tuesday afternoon, amidst a snowy December day outside, in the Tom Izzo Football Building the Spartan community got to hear for the first time from the man tasked with setting Michigan State on a winning foundation.
After his opening statement, Fitzgerald took questions from the local media, including a nearly 20-minute scrum that took place after the cameras of the Big Ten Network were turned off. Fitzgerald gave a picture to the Spartan community on just what to expect in the coming days.
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