Fitzgerald’s opening remarks at the opening press conference emphasized a return to the culture that propelled the Spartans to notable success under former head coach Mark Dantonio. “I said it in my press conference when I got introduced, that [toughness] was born at Michigan State,” Fitzgerald said. After yet another change at head coach – his second as a Spartan – the decision to leave would have been easy. That being said, Fitzgerakld acknowledges those standards to be part and parcel to being a head coach. That same praise was extended to Bullough and the impressively long line of Spartan football players he comes from.