Three Ways Pat Fitzgerald Won the Opening Press Conference

On Tuesday, Michigan State football introduced Pat Fitzgerald as the 27^th head coach in program history. His introductory press conference had plenty of quotes, fire, and passion. After the last few months have felt apathetic or uncaring by the fanbase, Fitzgerald was a breath of fresh air into the program. Here are three ways he won the fanbase over.

Big Ten football, Michigan State ties

When Jonathan Smith was hired, a main concern was his ability to adapt to the Big Ten. While Smith saw the powerhouses of Oregon and Washington, he did not see the defensive threats of Ohio State, Michigan, and Illinois, among others, every season. That was his ultimate undoing, as the offense was notably lacking in the second half of nearly every game.

Pat Fitzgerald, on the other hand, understands Big Ten football. He walks into the program and is instantly the second most-winning coach in the conference. “Coach Fitz,” as he prefers to be called, made a successful career as a Big Ten linebacker and coach. He took Northwestern to previously unreached heights, and his ties with the players and community will instantly endear him to the fanbase.

He made notes of his Big Ten roots multiple times, as well as his experience as a Michigan State football opponent, during his introductory press conference.

Additionally, Fitzgerald has close ties to former football head coach Mark Dantonio, as well as basketball head coach Tom Izzo. The newest football head coach saw Tom Izzo for lunch on Tuesday, and mentioned him as a good friend. Additionally, Fitzgerald phoned Mark Dantonio, and both coaches were hired into the Big Ten the same year. Fitzgerald mentioned that he plans on inviting Dantonio to football practices, and tying the head coach in with the program. That is already endearing him to the fanbase that felt Smith did not do enough with the Michigan State football legends.

Michigan Rivalry

Pat Fitzgerald had one way to surefire fail his press conference on Tuesday. That would be to downplay or fail to mention the in-state rival Michigan Wolverines. Safe to say, Fitzgerald was well-aware. He mentioned the school down the road in one of his first statements.

Fitzgerald implied that there was “one game that means more than most… I will leave it at that.” He was sure to mention that at multiple occasions during his separate media scrum. The coach knows the value of beating Michigan with this fanbase. Additionally, Pat Fitzgerald has his own rivalry with the Wolverines, turning down an interview request with them in 2011.

After Jonathan Smith did not seem to “buy in” to the rivalry in his two years, having a coach that understood how deeply there is hatred buried in the miles between Ann Arbor and East Lansing was critical. Kevin Guskiewicz and J Batt nailed the hire, and Fitzgerald himself nailed the press conference.

In-State Recruiting

One aspect that was lacking in Michigan State football recruiting under Jonathan Smith was the lack of winning the state on the recruiting trail. Worse yet, at points, the question was if MSU tried. The Spartans lost out on in-state targets, constantly being outperformed by Big 12 schools and conference foes Wisconsin and Minnesota, before you even factor in Michigan or traditional powerhouse Penn State.

During Fitzgerald’s opening message, he made sure to take time to specifically congratulate the Michigan High School state champions, and mentioned he would be seeing them soon. The path to victory goes directly through winning the state in recruiting, with the head coach saying the buck “starts and stops” with winning over the local prospects.

While it may be too early to officially give a grade on the hire without the support staff or portal class factored in, the early optics are good for Pat Fitzgerald. He has said all the right things to earn Michigan State football’s support from the fanbase. The donors, evidently agree, based on the “FOR SPARTA” campaign launched, with the lofty goal of $1 billion.