Pat Fitzgerald Tells Spartans Pouting Will Cost Playing Time

Michigan State's head coach Pat Fitzgerald addressed the media on Monday, discussing the frustrations his Spartans are experiencing after a recent string of losses. The team stands at 2-3 and 0-2 in the Big Ten following a 31-3 defeat to Wisconsin last Saturday. With a Homecoming game against Illinois on Saturday, a loss would leave them needing four wins in their final six games to secure a bowl game appearance.

Fitzgerald emphasized the need for his team to channel their frustration into motivation rather than allowing it to bring them down. He stressed the importance of pushing back into the win column and urged his players to improve their performance across all three phases of the game. Michigan State quarterback Alessio Milivojevic struggled with his passing accuracy against Wisconsin, completing only 15 of 32 passes for 103 yards.

Fitzgerald also addressed the team's fourth-down struggles, noting that they turned the ball over on downs five times in the Badgers' territory. The coach stressed that there would be no recklessness but an aggressive approach to securing fourth-down conversions. Regarding playing time, Fitzgerald expressed his belief that players should be consistently performing well in practice to earn their spots on the field.

He expressed no tolerance for players who pout or take days off, stating that those who don't show the necessary fire may not play. Fitzgerald acknowledged the frustration shared by fans but called upon them to show up in force on Saturday to support the team's efforts against Illinois.