Where are they now? Mickey Fitzgerald your life is calling.
May 20th, 2009 by bourbonstreet“The best blocking back we’ll ever face.” – Alabama Coach Paul Bear Bryant-
“I will always remember Fitzgerald running that trap up the middle. He killed everybody with it.” – Bobby Bowden Florida State-
The Incredible Hulk.
The Mick.
Fitz’.
This guy was a 6`2“ 255 lb. Chicago Maroon Brahma-bull that nobody managed to olé. A total beast wearing #88 stampeding anyone brave or perhaps insane enough to get in his way. Mickey Fitzgerald was a helluva a true old-school Fullback (Fb). But the man that is Mr. Fitzgerald and what he has done post-VT and football participation might just impress you all the more.
From the mid 1970’s and beyond, straight out of the signature Commonwealth pigskin pipeline school otherwise known as E.C. Glass
Hilltoppers; recruited by Alabama and the Ohio State; but destined to star in a somewhat thin football era in Blacksburg Va. The Mick was rated as the #1 high school footballer in
Mickey opened as a Fb but the Mick was switched from Te to Fb for his junior year then back to Fb for his senior year that lasted all of 9 stellar games in change.
At Tech all the Mick did was the following:
- Team Captain
- 3o3 carries and 1449 total yards.
- Named 1st-team all-conference (Southern at that time).
- 1977 All-American.
- Part of the mega talented two-headed V.P.I. Rb tandem of Kenny Lewis Sr. and of course the Mick himself.
- November 1977’s co-November player of the Month with none other than some little kid from somewhere in
Then at wvu during the ninth game of the 1979 season, the Mick catastrophically detonated his left knee on the hateful mountineer Field astro-turf. Mickey recovered as
well as could be expected for surgical reconstruction procedures of his era. But repairing every single ligament in a knee, even today, is dicey at best. Just ask today’s very own Sam Wheeler how that can go. But the Mick persevered and actually made his way into the Atlanta Falcons training camp that year; where he played with Falcon Qb Steve Bartkowski and all-pro Wr Alferd Jenkins, and all-pro Rb William Andrews. All Fitz did was lead the Falcons in rushing that pre-season on one good knee, and one that was part Chef Boyardee Spaghetti. However, during the final pre-season game, Fitz blew out his one remaining good knee. After that the Mick briefly played for the Philadelphia Eagles and then on to the new-fangled original U.S.F.L. Here are his regular season stats for the N.F.L.
Post his pro career the athletic accolades keep on rolling in for the Mick. He was and always will be the very first American to be accorded the privilege of Sumo Wrestling in
So what become of the Mick upon his return to the good ole USofA you ask? How about this … try founding and operating the #1 intraoperative neuromonitoring company in the entire
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Not half bad for an orphan with two bad knees, seven knee operations and only 20% hearing; but one who turned out to be an exceptional philanthropist in terms of childern’s charities and an
extremely successful businessman who now resides and runs Dynamic Orthotics & Prosthetics down in Vinings Georgia.
“Successful is the person who has lived well, laughed often and loved much; who has gained the respect of children; who leaves the world better than they found it; who has never lacked appreciation for the Earth’s beauty; who never fails to look for the best in others or give the best of themselves.”
- Mickey Fitzgerald-
“LETS GO!”
“HOKIES!”
b’street.
(Scroll down for comments on this blog entry)
May 20th, 2009 at 2:29 pm
“Street, If I’m not mistaken, Tech was an Indie when Mickey played for us. He was coached by Jimmy Sharpe. We left the SouCon in the 60’s, IIRC.
May 20th, 2009 at 5:36 pm
That’s from his website. But I would agry with you.
b’street
May 21st, 2009 at 1:24 pm
Awesome article b’street. The Mick was and is one of my all time favorite VT ballers. I still remember watching the old “Jimmy Sharpe Show” when they would say “The Hulk is loose!” after showing Mickey blasting some hapless defender.
May 21st, 2009 at 4:23 pm
Thank you kind Sir!
I was wondering if this new series should continue or not (due to such low voting)? I really enjoyed reading up all the research. Stroll down memory Lane (pun) or me as a teenager in Lane Stadium. But the responses have frankly been underwhelming. So I may not do too many more. We’ll see. Gonna Rodan this one a bit longer.
b’street
May 22nd, 2009 at 9:53 am
i think one reason you’re not seeing a lot of replies is that a lot of Hokies have hardly/never heard of the Mick – i know i reside in that group. but i’m naturally interested in history, and would love to hear more about these guys who represented VT back in the day, and i hope you continue this stuff.
May 22nd, 2009 at 1:02 pm
Ok. That prolly is part of this equation.
There could even be a decent sized slice of the esteemed TSL.com fanbase that was not even born in time to see the Mick play.
Good take j0ker.
Thank you.
b’street
May 24th, 2009 at 11:47 am
b-street,
I enjoyed the article but didn’t vote because Fitzgerald was way before my time and I have no idea if he was the best VT fullback of all time.
To somewhat paraphrase Stan “The Man” Lee – if you keep writing them, I’ll keep reading them.
May 24th, 2009 at 1:04 pm
Perhaps I will try a more recent guy and test the waters with a more well-known Hokie to see how that goes?
You guys may be right that this is the absence of O&M name-recognition.
b’street
May 24th, 2009 at 10:09 pm
b’street,
great article. I enjoyed reading it.
I have to agree with j0ker and Gouker thoughts on the lack of votes. I did not vote myself b/c I was not following tech football in those days and had not heard of Mick.
If you have more historical information on the VT football program I would enjoy reading about it.
May 26th, 2009 at 9:08 am
b, please keep up the series. I did not want to vote, but I really did enjoy the article. It makes us all proud to read about someone like the Hulk. I think the true fans are really interested in the post-sports careers of all of the Hokies.
May 26th, 2009 at 11:40 am
Mickey was not only the greatest blocking back and arguably the first nationally reruited player who ever signed with the Gobblers (as we knew them then)…..he told Bear Bryant NO, and Jimmy Sharpe (a Bear guy) YES, but also a personal friend.
He is the most down to earth guy I’ve ever met. He’d do anything for you. He started a orpanage in Atlanta through the NFL Alumni Assoc. (he’s been president of the organization).
Yes, Mickey is the ultimate self-promoter (he organized a letter writing campaign that helped get him in the Virginia Tech Hall of Fame). Few players had the personal relationship Mickey had with (late) President Lavery (who wrote a letter to Tech urging them to put Mickey in the Hall).
My youngest son has a photo from him signed “Uncle Mickey”. He’s really every Hokies favorite uncle. And his brother John, a linebacker on the 1980 Peach Bowl team, is just as good a guy!
I hope the Hulk at our tailgate when we’re back for the Nebraska and NC games this fall.
1AZHOKIE
May 26th, 2009 at 12:17 pm
Good story . Don’t quit on the series, B’Street , I am sure there is reading interest from a lot of us who hung in there as fans all those years and remember the guys who were exceptional athletes and/or characters. Keep up the good work!