Pat Fitzgerald’s first offseason at Michigan State is already taking shape around a simple idea: keep what matters, change what helps, and don’t blow up the whole room.
That balance is showing up in the little things. Fitzgerald has revived the old fall camp setup that has players living in Case Hall dorms with no access to their cars or scooters.
He’s also putting a fresh twist on one of the program’s most recognizable numbers: No. 1.
Under previous staffs, the jersey’s path has been uneven. It once belonged to Spartan legends, then sat out for a 20-year stretch after Charles Rogers seemed to retire it.
Jayden Reed later wore it under Mel Tucker, but that move came from the coaching staff rather than from the team itself. Fitzgerald is handling it differently.
This time, the players will vote on who gets to wear The Spartan.
And the locker room seems all in.
Alessio Milivojevic said, "The whole squad thinks it (the no. 1) is awesome. We are buying into it."
That makes sense. The number carries real weight at Michigan State.
Andre Rison helped make it famous, Muhsin Muhammad kept the legacy rolling, and Rogers turned it into a superstar’s badge. Reed followed that same lane during the Tucker era and, like the names before him, became a fan favorite before reaching the NFL.
What Fitzgerald has added is the group vote. The chosen player can keep his current number if he wants, or switch to No.
- If he stays put, he’ll still get a helmet sticker with the No. 1 on it.
It’s a small detail, but one that gives the whole team a say in something that clearly matters inside the program.
That’s part of why this feels different already.
The Jonathan Smith era, at least publicly, never seemed to generate much of that kind of energy. The program came off as flat, and there wasn’t much visible buy-in from the players. Outside of Smith putting on goalie pads and trying to stop shots from MSU hockey players, there wasn’t a lot that stood out as team-building.
Fitzgerald has come in with a different feel. Social media has already shown him having fun with the players, and now this No. 1 vote gives the team another way to feel involved.
It may not be a massive move on its own, but these are the kinds of things players notice. Being heard matters.
So far, Fitzgerald has brought back a sense of purpose and personality that Michigan State had been missing. He comes across as a no-nonsense, old-school coach who leans into tradition, and that fits what he’s trying to build. For now, the Spartans are responding.
In Other News...
Tom Izzo Addressed One Last Michigan State Roster Question
Michigan States offseason roster picture finally came into focus this week, with Tom Izzo making it clear the Spartans are done adding pieces for the upcoming season. Even with a recent court injunction opening the door for some players to gain a fifth year of eligibility, Izzo said he has already moved on at those spots and filled out the roster he plans to take into the year ahead.
The timing matters because it closes the book on any late speculation around former Spartans Jaxon Kohler and Tre Holloman. Both had been part of the conversation after the eligibility ruling, but Izzos stance leaves Michigan State set with what it has now, and with no room for another surprise addition before the season gets underway. [Read more 🡒]
Michigan State And Michigan Are Battling For An Izzo Type Big
Michigan States 2027 recruiting board has a familiar Izzo feel to it, and one of the more important names on it is Kamsi Awaka. The four-star center from New Jersey has the size and style that tend to translate well in East Lansing, with a 6-foot-10 frame, 250-pound build and a reputation for physical play and rim protection that fits the kind of frontcourt anchor Tom Izzo has long valued.
The race for Awaka is not a simple one, though, because Michigan is in the mix too, along with other programs, and the competition is already tight enough to make every visit and every conversation matter. What remains unclear is when he will make his decision, or whether Michigan State still considers him the top interior target in that class as the recruiting picture continues to take shape. [Read more 🡒]