MANHATTAN, Kan. (AP) Nick Fitzgerald was the first one to ask Mississippi State coach Joe Moorhead for this weeks scouting report, and hell probably be the first one to have his cleats on Saturday.
Thats what happens when you havent stepped on the field since last years Egg Bowl.
The Heisman Trophy candidate dislocated his right ankle against Ole Miss, forcing him to miss the Bulldogs bowl game. Then, Fitzgerald was suspended for this seasons opener against Stephen F. Austin for violating an unspecified team rule, relegating him to running the scout team.
Very excited to get going with my season, said Fitzgerald, who will be back under center when the No. 18 Bulldogs visit Kansas State for an important non-conference test.
I mean, yeah, it was rough, he said of missing the opener, but I take full responsibility for the reasons why I was out. I embraced my role as a scout team quarterback while I was there. … I just kind of embraced that leadership role.
His understudy, Keytaon Thompson, performed admirably in his place, throwing for 364 yards and five touchdowns while running for 109 yards and two more scores. But there was never a doubt Fitzgerald, who was voted a team captain despite his suspension, would be back against the Wildcats.
Everybody makes mistakes, but thats part of the process, Mississippi State coach Joe Moorhead said. I think Fitzgerald has learned from the experience and will be better coming out.
Speaking of being better, the Wildcats will need to be much better than they were last week, when they needed a fourth-quarter rally to beat South Dakota in their opener.
They turned the ball over four times. Committed 13 penalties. They dropped passes, made mistakes in the red zone and generally played counter to everything longtime Bill Snyder preaches each week.
Offensive lineman Dalton Risner summed up his coachs predictable reaction: You know you hear the saying, Im not mad, Im just disappointed? Well, hes mad and hes disappointed.
I know its the first game and theres so many excuses in the world, Risner said, but if theres a coach that doesnt care about the excuses, its Coach Snyder.
The struggles extended to defense, too, where the Wildcats allowed the Coyotes to pile up 334 yards of total offense. That included 257 yards through the air, which should make Fitzgerald salivate.
He does pose a threat, obviously, Snyder said. Hes going into a new offense, didnt have spring practice behind him, but I think hes bright and should be able to pick those things up very well. Who does he remind me of ? I dont know, just off the top of my head maybe a Collin Klein, a guy that pretty much had the same numbers. Maybe not quite as prolific, but nevertheless, they had similar numbers.
Klein, of course, was the Wildcats own Heisman Trophy finalist, and now hes tutoring quarterbacks Alex Del-ton and Skylar Thompson while helping to coordinate Kansas States offense.
LONG TIME COMING
