Pat Fitzgerald spent part of the lead-up to Saturday’s game against Washington doing more than talking football. He took the pitch straight to East Lansing’s student hangouts, appearing at several bars with Athletic Director Dan Bartholomae in an effort to pull students into Spartan Stadium.
The stops included Harper’s Restaurant & Brew Pub, Rick’s American Cafe, Los Tres Mex Grill and Fieldhouse. At each place, Fitzgerald and Bartholomae handed out tickets to the game and concession vouchers for Spartan Stadium, trying to build the kind of crowd energy MSU wants around the program.
At Fieldhouse, the two gave short speeches aimed at getting students fired up for Saturday night. Fitzgerald kept the message simple and loud.
“Let's get this sh- rocking Saturday,” Fitzgerald said to the students at Fieldhouse.
For MSU Athletics, the push to get students in the building is nothing new. The department has worked with Fieldhouse before, including for the Homecoming game against Northwestern, when students who stayed through the end received a stamp that got them free cover at the bar and a pizza afterward.
The university has also rolled out other incentives this season and in years past to keep students in the stands. For Saturday’s game, each student ticket will count as two admissions. During Homecoming, head basketball coach Tom Izzo also visited the student section to show support, and half-off concessions were offered to students from halftime through the end of the game for the rest of the season.
For some students, Fitzgerald’s presence has already shifted how they feel about Michigan State football.
“Fitz has changed the way I’ve looked at Michigan State football. He came in here.
He said he was going to beat Michigan, and you know what? He did," Nowak said.
That promise was fulfilled with the Paul Bunyan Trophy coming back to East Lansing, a result that carried extra weight for students who had gone their whole college experience without seeing a win over the Wolverines.
“I am a senior, and I have been talking about it all week that I have never felt as good about a football team here as I have with Coach Fitz,” advertising senior Marek Winnicki said. “I am super excited to see what he does with this team.”
The outreach has also helped Fitzgerald build a stronger bond with a fan base that seems ready to buy into what comes next. One student even put his growing campus presence in the same conversation as longtime men’s basketball coach Tom Izzo.
“I'm so excited for this program for the next couple of years, and I think he's gonna do a lot of great things,” finance freshman Josh Mackey said. “I've seen Izzo, I’ve seen Fitz, and he’s such an icon for Michigan State.”
In Other News...
Ben Roberts Could Change Everything For MSU Against Washington
Michigan States injury report is starting to look a little more encouraging heading into Washington, and the biggest name on it is defensive lineman Ben Roberts. After being sidelined by injury, Roberts has been upgraded to questionable for the matchup, a sign the Spartans may be getting closer to full strength at a spot where depth can matter in a hurry. Cornerbacks Charles Brantley and Tre Bell, along with backup quarterback Cam Fancher, are also in the questionable mix, leaving plenty of uncertainty as the Spartans prepare for a game that could hinge on availability as much as scheme.
Washington has its own injury question to sort through with star quarterback Demond Williams Jr. also listed as questionable, adding another layer to a game already shaped by health concerns on both sides. Michigan State coach Pat Fitzgerald has said he is hopeful some of the injured players can work their way back later this season, which makes this week feel like more than just a single-game update. For a team trying to stabilize itself, getting Roberts back on the field could be a meaningful step if he is able to go. [Read more 🡒]
Michigan State Women Just Showed How Dangerous This Deep Roster Can Be
Michigan States women kept rolling with a 91-50 win over Oakland, and the most encouraging part for the Spartans was how many different players shaped the game. Theryn Hallock set the tone with a strong all-around showing, while freshmen Manique Bobongie and Lily Williams made their presence felt on both ends of the floor. It was the kind of performance that reminded everyone this roster has more than one way to take control of a game.
Kennedy Blair added another layer to that depth with aggressive defense, rebounding and playmaking as Michigan State stayed comfortably ahead throughout. For a team trying to build momentum, wins like this matter not just because of the margin, but because they show how quickly the rotation can produce impact from top to bottom. The Spartans looked deep, active and difficult to match, which is exactly the sort of problem opponents will have to solve going forward. [Read more 🡒]
Izzo Sees Something Michigan State Fans Will Love In Two Signees
Tom Izzo officially added two more names to Michigan States future this week, welcoming guard Antonio Pemberton and forward-center Jaydn Jenkins after both signed letters of intent with the program. Pemberton arrives as a highly ranked five-star prospect with a reputation for putting the ball in the basket, while Jenkins brings the kind of defensive upside and athleticism that has long appealed to Izzos style of roster building.
Izzo offered his thoughts on both players after the signings, giving Spartans fans a clearer picture of why each fit mattered in the recruiting process. For a program that has always valued toughness, versatility and players who can grow into bigger roles, the pair gives Michigan State a blend of immediate excitement and long-term promise, even if the full impact of the class will take time to unfold. [Read more 🡒]