Hall of Fame
- Induction:
- 1984
Born July 16, 1946 in Sewickley, PA…Graduated from Ambridge, PA High School in 1963…Lettered in track and football as a prep…Played fullback and linebacker…Recruited by former KSU coach Leo Strang…Earned All-Steele Valley honors and All-State laurels as a senior…Member of undefeated frosh football team in 1964…Earned three Varsity K’s…Probably the best back in Flashes’ history…Set NCAA record in 1966 with 296 carries as a junior and 47 rushes in a single game…Then Miami coach, Bo Schembechler called Fitzgerald, “the best big back I’ve ever seen since I came into the league.”…Was the nation’s second best rusher as a junior, gained 1,245 yards…Set MAC record with 749 yards rushing in 1966 in just six games…A consensus All-MAC selection in 1966 and 1967…MAC player of the week 1967…Rushed for 2,221 yards in his collegiate career…Earned the nicknames, “Human Hammer” and “Fitz the Blitz” for his punishing style of running…An NFL scout tabbed Fitz as “the best big man in the country inside the 10-yard line”…Slowed by a hamstring pull during his final campaign, he still rushed for 891 yards and averaged 3.6 yards per carry.
