Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...

Pat Fitzgerald was a part of Northwestern’s football program for 26 years, first as an All-America linebacker, then as an assistant to coach Randy Walker and finally as head coach for 17 seasons.

On Tuesday, he stepped in front of reporters in East Lansing, Mich., wearing a suit with a green-and-white-striped tie and concluded his opening statement by pumping his fist, smiling and uttering, “Go Green.”

Two and a half years after Northwestern fired Fitzgerald amid a hazing scandal in Evanston, he officially was back in the Big Ten as Michigan State’s coach. The Spartans signed Fitzgerald to a five-year contract to replace Jonathan Smith, whom they fired after two seasons and a 9-15 record.

After flying in Tuesday morning, Fitzgerald promise

See Full Page