Pat Fitzgerald’s task restoring Michigan State football starts with jolting fans to life

EAST LANSING – After being formally introduced as Michigan State’s new coach and meeting with donors, Pat Fitzgerald made a brief stop at Spartan Stadium.

As part of a video filmed by the program’s social team, he stepped through the tunnel while holding hands with his wife, Stacy, but it was far from a first impression.

Fitzgerald played and coached for Northwestern at the century-old stadium and recalled a mistake made his first time as head coach in East Lansing.

“We made some poor decision to warm up in front of the student section,” Fitzgerald said during Tuesday’s introductory press conference. “I don’t know why we decided to do that, that was a first and last time that we were going to ever do that.”

In Fitzgerald’s debut season as head coach in 2006, Michigan State rallied from a 35-point deficit in the third quarter in an NCAA-record breaking comeback to win 41-38. A year later, the Wildcats survived student section antics to pull out a 48-41 overtime victory in East Lansing.

“Spartan Stadium has always been an incredibly challenging place to play, I know first-hand,” Fitzgerald said. “I don’t want to talk about a lot of those games, we’ll leave those alone, but what jumps out so much is the pride, the people, the commitment and the resources to compete at the highest level. I’m here because I believe deeply in what we can build together.”

Fitzgerald replaces Jonathan Smith, who was fired after posting a 9-15 record in two seasons that lacked a program identity and public support. There are similarities between the two – both former standout players with their lone head coaching experience at their alma mater – but plenty of differences.

Smith, a West Coast native, doesn’t have a fiery personality and never connected with the Michigan State fan base. Fitzgerald is a walking, talking energy drink commercial with deep roots in the Midwest and Big Ten who immediately tapped into what the Spartans want – passion and a belief better days are ahead.

“Michigan State has historically competed for Big Ten championships and my family and I are grateful for the opportunity to make sure we get back to that place,” Fitzgerald said. “We’re going to build this for long-term success and we need everyone to buy in.”

The same Spartan Stadium Fitzgerald remembers for its ferocity hasn’t been as daunting for opponents in recent years. There are a lot of reasons but it basically comes down to winning. Michigan State hasn’t done enough of it and college kids will find different ways to spend their time.

A Michigan State student reporter pointed out continued program failures and asked what the new coach will do to flip it.

“That’s the environment we need, the homefield, hostile, passionate environment and we have to provide a team on the field that has the students say, you know what, we’re having a fun time on Saturday, let’s go have a great party in Spartan Stadium,” Fitzgerald said. “That 12^th person is going to be the student body, and obviously all the other fans, but especially the student body. You’re the core of the fanbase, you’re the heartbeat and we’re going to need you.”