CHICAGO — Pat Fitzgerald already had one viral moment in the last week. The Michigan State coach didn’t try to add another one as he gears up to face his former Northwestern team on Saturday at Spartan Stadium.
Two days after Fitzgerald’s animated, middle-finger-flipping sideline antics against Illinois drew social media attention, the first-year Spartans coach was reserved at his weekly news conference with local reporters Monday as he talked about meeting the team for which he played and then served as head coach for 17 seasons.
Fitzgerald didn’t offer up any barbs or criticisms of his former program, which fired him in July 2023 amid a hazing scandal.
“This week and this game is not about me,” Fitzgerald said. “It’s about the players on both teams. I’m very proud of my experience as a player there and the great teammates I had. Very proud of the teams and the coaches I worked with and the players I had a privilege to coach there, and very thankful for that experience.
“But I’m a Spartan and I’m proud to be a Spartan and I’m honored to be here. And our sole focus is getting our team better and getting prepared to play a Top 25 team and find a way to be ready to go at noon on Saturday.”
Fitzgerald went 110-101 with 10 bowl appearances at Northwestern, including a 4-20 record over his final two seasons.
His dismissal at Northwestern came after football players reported hazing in his program that included “forced participation, nudity and sexualized acts of a degrading nature.” Fitzgerald settled his $130 million wrongful termination lawsuit in August 2025, during which Northwestern said it didn’t find evidence that Fitzgerald directed or condoned the hazing.
When Fitzgerald returned to Big Ten media days in July, he mostly spoke well of Northwestern but also said he and the Spartans had “a bag of chips on our shoulder.” He also quipped that he was “excited to have a home-field advantage (at Michigan State). Never lived that.”
On Monday, he was complimentary of the Wildcats and said he was enjoying seeing the success some of the players he recruited are having at Northwestern.
“For me, it’s a little bit more nostalgia, thinking about the relationships with a lot of the guys that are playing at a high level there,” he said. “Going back to their home visits — back when it was the old recruiting — going in their homes, identifying those guys as sophomores and juniors, and now to see the way that they’re playing, I’m really, really proud of those guys.
“The coaching staff is doing a phenomenal job coaching them up, David (Braun) and the entire assistant group.”
Michigan State (2-4, 0-3) still is seeking its first victory under Fitzgerald against a Power Four conference team. The Spartans’ only wins came against Toledo and Eastern Michigan, with losses to Nebraska, Notre Dame, Wisconsin and Illinois.
Fitzgerald went viral during Saturday’s 38-37 overtime loss to Illinois when he was caught on camera whipping a towel around to rile up the crowd and then waving his middle finger toward the field. He was upset that a successful onside kick was negated by an offside penalty as the Spartans rallied from a 23-7 third-quarter deficit.
Illinois ultimately won in overtime when it stopped the Spartans’ 2-point conversion try to win after both teams scored touchdowns.
Fitzgerald said he apologized to his players that his reaction became a distraction.
“My mom’s rolling over in her grave, so I need to be more disciplined,” he said. “I need to be more composed. I do have a passion problem, and I’ve had that for a long time. But that needs to be controlled and not be emotional, and I was emotional and I can’t do that.”
No. 25 Northwestern (4-1, 1-1) enters the game in a different place under fourth-year coach Braun — ranked in the Associated Press poll for the first time since the 2020 season, when Fitzgerald was at the helm.
The Wildcats gained national attention with wins over Colorado and Penn State in the opening of the new $875 million Ryan Field and with a close loss to defending national champion Indiana. They have games against Michigan State and Rutgers up next before a rugged three-game stretch against Oregon, No. 17 Iowa and No. 4 Ohio State.
Fitzgerald, who hired Braun to be his defensive coordinator before the 2023 season, said he’s happy for the success Braun has had since taking over when Fitzgerald was fired.
“He’s done just an absolutely terrific job leading the program and putting his stamp on it and doing it his way, which every great head coach does that,” Fitzgerald said. “So really proud of him. He’s doing a terrific job. Huge fan of his and huge fan of theirs in every game but one this Saturday.”
Northwestern’s first game against Fitzgerald isn’t the only storyline this week. Wildcats quarterback Aidan Chiles returns to play his former team. Chiles threw for 3,807 yards and 23 touchdowns with 14 interceptions over two seasons at Michigan State under former coach Jonathan Smith.
Chiles and running backs Caleb Komolafe and Joseph Himon II have helped the Northwestern offense thrive under new offensive coordinator Chip Kelly. Chiles has thrown for 1,172 yards and nine touchdowns with no interceptions and has rushed for six touchdowns in five games.
“He’s playing outstanding,” Fitzgerald said. “Touchdown-to-turnover ratio speaks for itself. He’s executing Coach Kelly’s offense excellently. He’s giving them a chance to win every game and is the reason why they’ve won the way they’ve won. Hats off to him. He’s playing at a really high level.”
Braun echoed Fitzgerald’s comments about limiting distractions during his news conference Monday in Evanston. He expressed gratitude for Fitzgerald giving him the opportunity at Northwestern but said he needs to model a focus on the game for his players.
“This game is not about me,” Braun said. “This game is not about the fact that Coach Fitz is one of the most revered individuals to ever grace this program as a player and as a coach. And this isn’t about Aidan playing his former program. This is about this team preparing to be at our best on the road in a hostile environment.”
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