MSU HC Pat Fitzgerald Impact Beyond the Game

Fri, Aug 7, 2026

Video Transcript

Coach, if I could, um, a quick Google search to show you've been, um, engaged with this game at a high level for more than half your life.

So a day like today is like, you know, riding a bike, muscle memory, but in 2026, what's different other than representing different colors in the Big 10, but what makes you kind of reflect a little bit, kind of make you think a little bit more about 2026 coaching football ?

Uh, well, number one, I love football.

I love everything about it.

I loved it when I woke up this morning and drove in, it was really humid.

Uh, and you know, when I go back to when I first started playing football in the 2nd grade, my mom signed me up.

I was a guy that was looking around in class, couldn't stay focused, and, uh, so my mom put me in football and I was a 2nd grader playing with guys all the way up to 6th and 7th grade.

Uh, but I learned a lot about myself.

I learned a lot about the game and I fell in love with it.

And then, You know, to have the privilege of being in this role and the power of influence you have as a head football coach of not only the young men, you get the privilege to coach and teach, but then also, you know, in a leadership role, you know, of the front porch of the university and what comes along with all that responsibility is, is humbling.

Uh, I, I, I enjoy the heck out of it and, uh, I'm just, I'm honored and thankful to be in the role.

And then, you know , just to watch guys grow from the minute we identify them, whenever that may be until they walk across the stage and, and, uh.

You know, Trey Bell and I kind of had a little moment.

He was walking around the indoor before we started today, and, uh, I go, you all right?

You're just getting your steps in.

He goes, I'm just kind of taking it all in, you know, and I , and I think that's what football does to you.

It just, it impacts your soul and to see, you know, a young man who's as conscientious as Trey, you know, believe in us, come here to be a part of what we're trying to build, and then to see the way he walked around.

I mean, that's, that's what it's all about.

We all love football.

That's why the guys are here, uh, that's why the staff is here, and, uh, you know, that's why I do what I do.