#2 MSU HC Pat Fitzgerald Embracing Discomfort for Team Strength

Fri, Aug 7, 2026

Video Transcript

They've just been used to so many creature comforts and there's nothing comfortable about football.

Well, first of all, just the proximity of where cases across the street allows our guys an easy transition back and forth as we like, you know, start this morning with breakfast at 6:45, you know, they're able to get over here in the building pretty quick, right?

So they can get treatments.

And they can get everything they need to do.

They don't have to worry about driving.

We took their keys, we took their scooter keys, uh, so, uh, we put them in a dorm, which is, I think most of you know, we don't stay in dorms here.

We stay in the apartments over at 1855 that are nicer than any apartment I had as a postgraduate.

So, uh, you know, to kind of go back old school a little bit, you know, you got a roommate, they don't have roommates in their apartments, you know, they've got suitemates, so you got to get a little uncomfortable, you got to be comfortable doing that, getting to know somebody.

Uh, and, and then just the ability to have camaraderie and, and, and a little bit more enhanced brotherhood when we, you know, wrap up the day tonight at 8:30, 8:45, you know, I, I know.

If it's anything like it's been in the past, the guys will probably hang out in the players' lounge, play video games, you know, go back, hang out, play cards, do whatever it is that they choose to do, and then, you know, we're back at it, you know, pretty much on a pretty regimented schedule between now and by the time we get to game week.

But it's just to bring the guys together, reinforce brotherhood, and get them to know their teammates better.

Like they've just been used to so many creature comforts, and there's nothing comfortable about football.

There's nothing easy about football.

And, uh, same thing with relationships.

You've got to pour into each other.

Uh, you've got to have the time on task, and these guys have done a great job all offseason, but now as we, you know, day one of, on the field of the 4th quarter of our preparation is already done.

And so we're, we're running out of time with this team and, um, we're just, just trying to reinforce, you know, the brotherhood kind of mindset that we want.