WHISTLE STOP Fitzgerald
has spearheaded efforts to revamp Penn State's conditioning program. Under his leadership, the
Lions have been beginning their winter workout sessions at 5:15 a.m.
New conditioning coach Craig Fitzgerald makes a positive impression on PSU's players COMING ON STRONG C 24
BY NATE BAUER nbauer@bluewhiteonline.com
raig Fitzgerald might be certifi- ably insane. As dozens of media members
stood shivering on the sidelines of Penn State's turf practice
field outside the Lasch Building at 5:30 on a recent Friday morning – check- ing frequently to make sure their fin- gers and toes were still working in the 30-degree cold – Penn State's new di-
M A R C H 2 3 , 2 0 1 2
rector of strength and con- ditioning for football trotted out in shorts and a T-shirt. He'd long since finished his own workout – Fitzgerald typically lifts at 3:30 or 4 a.m. – and soon was barking instructions at players in the predawn chill. With wind chills dipping
into the 20s, Fitzgerald's nonchalance suggested a certain lev- el of insanity. But considering his role,
a bit of insanity might be one of the job requirements. Strength coaches have to supply motivation, and their demeanor makes a differ- ence. Fitzgerald's demeanor has
definitely had an impact on Penn State's players this win- ter. Publicly, those players have been choosing their
words carefully, concerned that it might sound as though they were dis-
paraging the previous regime. Pri- vately, however, many in the Penn State locker room are ecstatic about the addition of Fitzgerald. "Love him," said one Nittany Lion.
"Got a man crush on him. He's the best thing that ever happened to Penn State. It's awesome." "He's real intense but he's always mo-
tivating you," another player said. "It's crazy." After spending just a few minutes in Fitzgerald's company, it's easy to see
W W W . B L U E W H I T E O N L I N E . C O M Tim Owen
