Pat Fitzgerald's downtown tour shows he gets Michigan State culture
On Wednesday, Michigan State football coach Pat Fitzgerald and his new athletic director took the Paul Bunyan Trophy to the people of East Lansing.
East Lansing – Pat Fitzgerald, the first-year coach of Michigan State football, took the Paul Bunyan Trophy to the people after a 15-6 victory over Michigan on Saturday night. The coach and his athletic director, Dan Bartholomae, left their radio show to visit downtown bars and restaurants where fans gather. They met the crowd with cheers and high-fives, taking the trophy to the streets just as former MSU head coach Duffy Daugherty did in 2009.
Fitzgerald, who grew up in Northwestern football, understood the significance of the rivalry and took the time to emphasize it. His approach is similar to that of former Michigan State basketball coach Tom Izzo, who connected with fans by visiting dorms, fraternities, and sporting events. Fitzgerald, who has studied the culture of the Big Ten, hopes to build the same momentum as his predecessors.
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Also reported by 2 other outlets
- Pat Fitzgerald's downtown tour shows he gets Michigan State culture sports.yahoo.com
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