MSU won't say when talks with Pat Fitzgerald started; he had other interest

East Lansing ― Michigan State athletic director J Batt wouldn't go into details when asked Tuesday on when the search for a new football coach began. But given the quickness with which things unfolded early this week, it's quite clear things were in motion before Jonathan Smith was fired the day after the regular season ended.

Smith was fired Sunday, following Saturday's 38-28 win over Maryland at Ford Field. Word began surfacing later Sunday that Pat Fitzgerald was the choice, and Michigan State made it official Monday .