Photo: Nick King ~ USA TODAY NETWORK
EAST LANSING ~ Pat Fitzgerald opened his spring press conference by turning the focus outward, thanking the fan base for its presence and energy during the final workout. “And to see that type of support was amazing. So huge kudos and thank you to our great fans,” Fitzgerald said. For the head coach, the crowd was more than a backdrop, serving as a symbol of where the program is headed, one built on reconnecting with the community and restoring pride through everyday work.
That work, Fitzgerald emphasized, has been demanding by design. He pointed to visible physical gains since winter conditioning and credited the strength staff for setting the tone. “Our body weights are up over six pounds per guy,” he said, adding that the progress goes beyond the numbers. Early-morning practices, some beginning before sunrise, have helped forge what he called a growing “brotherhood,” rooted in players “giving of themselves for the very good of the team.” Fitzgerald repeatedly cited alignment across the department as a key reason for optimism.
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(CONTINUED) On the field, Fitzgerald cautioned against reading too much into any single spring practice, particularly when evaluating the balance between offense and defense. “I wouldn’t overthink who had highs and lows today,” he said. “It was one day of practice.” He noted competitive depth in the secondary and among skill-position players. Redshirt sophomore quarterback Alessio Milivojevic was affirmed as the starter, with Fitzgerald saying, “We have great confidence in Alessio,” while acknowledging the team remains a work in progress. “Are we the finished product? No,” he said.
That mindset carries into what Fitzgerald described as the most important phase of the offseason: summer. He emphasized the immediacy of preparation despite milestones on the calendar, including 110 days until camp and 141 until the opener. “We’ve got to harden our edge,” Fitzgerald said. “We’ve got to get tougher, and that’s going to happen through preparation.” As players depart with individualized plans, Fitzgerald stressed that progress is earned daily and belief is built through consistent work.
