Ex-Cavalier hopes to get his groove back at K State

By JEFF WHITE
MEDIA GENERAL NEWS SERVICE
Published: May 23, 2008

To call Manhattan, Kan., the Charlottesville of the Midwest would be a stretch. The football program at Kansas State, however, is strengthening its ties to the University of Virginia.

K-State coach Ron Prince, of course, is a former U.Va. assistant. The Wildcats’ 2007 roster included linebacker Olu Hall, who sat out the season after transferring from U.Va. And now Jeffrey Fitzgerald, who started at defensive end for Virginia in 2006 and ‘07, will be reunited with Hall and Prince.

In his first interview since withdrawing from U.Va. in February, Fitzgerald spoke Wednesday to the Richmond Times-Dispatch. He’s still living in Charlottesville, recovering from operations on both of his knees and one of his shoulders, all of which bothered him last season.

Had playing this fall for a Division I-AA school been an option, Fitzgerald said, he might have postponed one or more of those operations. But he would not have been academically eligible to play for any NCAA school in 2008, so he decided to stay in Division I-A. He’ll sit out the coming season while taking classes at K-State, then play as a fifth-year senior in 2009.

“That was kind of an option in the back of my head the whole time, with me having a previous relationship with Coach Prince,” said Fitzgerald, who visited Kansas State this spring.

Fitzgerald and Hall entered U.Va. in 2005, which turned out to be Prince’s last season on Al Groh’s staff there.

“Ron knows Jeffrey, and Jeffrey knows Ron,” Groh said Thursday. “Obviously, Ron is excited about adding a playmaker like that.”

U.Va. would not say what led to Fitzgerald’s departure. But sources said it was related to an academic issue. Fitzgerald declined to discuss his reasons for leaving—“I’d rather keep that personal”—and said he’s “just trying to focus on the future, trying to get in the best shape I can to contribute at Kansas State.”

At first, Fitzgerald said, it “was a little bit tough, but with the support from my family and close friends, everything has worked out. . . . I got nothing but love for U.Va. athletics. I still keep in contact with the coaches and players. I wish them the best.”

In his two seasons with the Cavaliers—he redshirted in 2005—Fitzgerald made 12 sacks, intercepted four passes and scored two touchdowns. Now, he said, “I just have to prove I can go out there and stand on my own, without Chris Long on the other side.”

Like Virginia, Kansas State runs the 3-4 as its base defense. And Prince’s coaching philosophy is similar to that of Groh’s.

“It reduces the degree of change that’s involved with this transition, probably to the smallest possible element,” Groh said. “Jeffrey’s a great favorite of ours. He’s a terrific kid, and you can’t help but do anything but root for his success.”