Pat Forde: Why Pat Fitzgerald Feels Like the Perfect Fit at Michigan State
Pat Fitzgerald has been hired as the new head football coach at Michigan State following his departure from Northwestern. Fitzgerald expressed excitement about returning to coaching after a three-year hiatus.
Why it matters
This marks a significant return to college football for a high-profile coach following a controversial exit, highlighting the competitive nature of the sport's coaching carousel.
CHICAGO — Pat Fitzgerald had some new experiences the last three football seasons. He was a volunteer coach at Loyola Academy, where his sons played. He made trips to Iowa, where Ryan Fitzgerald is a backup quarterback for the Hawkeyes, mingling with other team parents at home games.
“This tailgating thing is awesome,” Fitzgerald said after exploring the other side of a college football weekend for the first time in his life.
It is not, however, as awesome as being in the thick of the fight on an autumn Saturday. Not as awesome as leading a team onto the field after immersing mind, body and soul into the preparation of a game plan. Not as awesome as the visceral thrill or pain of winning and losing, when it all starts with you.
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