Fox Sports color commentator Joel Klatt has been blown away by the current college football coaching carousel. One hire that has caught his attention amongst most comes from the Big Ten, however.
Earlier this week, Michigan State made a bold swing by firing Jonathan Smith and taking a chance with giving Pat Fitzgerald a second chance to coach in the Big Ten in replacing Smith.
Klatt, a color commentator at Fox Sports, passionately defended the Spartans' decision and is excited to see how Fitzgerald's tenure plays out.
“Pat Fitzgerald is going to be back in college football," Klatt said. "I, for one, am very excited about this,” Klatt said. “I think Pat Fitzgerald is one of the great men and coaches in our sport. If I had a son, I have said this for a long time. He’s one of the rare guys that I would say, absolutely go play for Pat Fitzgerald.”
Fitzgerald appears ready to embrace culture changes in East Lansing by helping return the program to similar heights as it was in the 2000s and much of the 2010s under Mark Dantonio.
"This is a program with a deep and storied tradition, a passionate fan base, and a commitment to excellence that extends far beyond the football field," Fitzgerald said in a statement. "What excited me most about this opportunity was the vision for what Michigan State can be for years to come. We will restore tradition, and I’m eager to earn the trust of our players, alumni and fans while competing at the highest level.”
The Spartans finished 4-8 in Smith's final season, only winning one Big Ten game.
Although Fitzgerald may have a lot of work to do, it isn't something he is unfamiliar with.