Illinois gets Michigan State at a moment when the Spartans are still trying to claw their way out of the wreckage left behind by two rough seasons under Jonathan Smith. That’s the backdrop Stephen Brooks of Spartan Tailgate painted ahead of Saturday’s 2:30 p.m. CT kickoff on FS1 between the 2-3, 0-2 Big Ten teams.
Brooks said Pat Fitzgerald walked into a program that had already worn out the patience of its fan base. The frustration, he explained, has been building for years as the school has gone through three resets in less than a decade and cycled through three athletic directors in that same stretch. In his view, Fitzgerald didn’t inherit much of anything that was ready to build on.
“Personnel-wise, he inherited almost nothing,” Brooks said.
The few holdovers making real positive contributions right now, according to Brooks, are linebacker Jordan Hall, defensive tackle Ben Roberts and safety Nikai Martinez. Beyond that, he described a roster and a program that needed a full cultural overhaul.
Fitzgerald, Brooks said, came in knowing he had to tear things down to the studs and start again. That work is still in progress, but there have been some early signs that point in the right direction. More than anything, Brooks believes Fitzgerald has already changed the feel around the program.
He said the former Illinois coach brings a charisma and presence that stands in contrast to Smith’s approach. For a fan base that has spent years watching the program slide, that matters.
“He's a captivating guy with a presence to him and a ton of charisma,” Brooks said. “Jonathan Smith was famously the opposite in many regards, so I think Fitzgerald has been a welcome breeze in that respect.”
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The challenge is that nothing is guaranteed in a rotation that figures to tighten as the season goes on. Jakstys will have to earn his place in a crowded frontcourt, and Illinois needs him to break through if it wants more balance and flexibility up front. The ability is there, the opportunity is coming, and the next step will be whether he can turn that promise into a role the staff can trust. [Read more 🡒]