The MSU duo, in the locker room with their teammates, listened intently as newly-minted head coach Joe Moorhead debriefed on the contest and the spring as a whole. At the conclusion, Moorhead made an announcement that the two seniors will remember forever—Fitzgerald and Green were voted as team captains for the 2018 season.
Cover Story: A Captain's Mentality
September 28, 2018 | Football
by Caleb Garner, Graduate Assistant/Communications
The following feature story can be found in the Sept. 29 Mississippi State Football Game Program, which can be purchased for $5 in and around Davis Wade Stadium on Saturday.
Following Mississippi State's annual Maroon and White Spring Game on April 21, Nick Fitzgerald and Gerri Green had no idea it was coming.
The MSU duo, in the locker room with their teammates, listened intently as newly-minted head coach Joe Moorhead debriefed on the contest and the spring as a whole. At the conclusion, Moorhead made an announcement that the two seniors will remember forever—Fitzgerald and Green were voted as team captains for the 2018 season.
"It was a special moment after the spring game," Green said. "We weren't really expecting it, because it was the first time our captains had been announced in that way. Being named captain was an honor, because it came directly from our teammates. Just knowing that they wanted me to represent them, I took that whole-heartedly."
In previous years, like many teams around the country, the Bulldogs had traditionally fielded three captains—one each on offense, defense and special teams. This year, however, was different.
"[Moorhead] announced Gerri as the defensive captain and then announced me [as the offensive captain]," Fitzgerald said. "From what we understood, there was supposed to be more than Gerri and I, but when they tallied the votes it was just so one-sided on offense and defense that they just decided that we would be the captains."
Green added that, although they are captains of their specific side of the ball, they are ultimately charged with being captains of the team, as a whole. Part of that is making sure the team remains focused on the task at-hand.
"Fall camp was when we really had to make sure we and the rest of the guys were pushing through day-to-day," the senior defensive end from Greenville, Mississippi, said. "Now that the season has started, it's making sure that we're getting better each and every week, putting games behind us and moving on to the next week. One thing about being named captain is that you're not just captain of one side of the ball, you become a captain of the whole team. You have to branch out to the other side--offense and special teams--and be a whole team captain."
Branching out to the other side of the ball and building relationships with teammates, Fitzgerald agreed, is the key to winning the respect of the entire team and knowing how to lead.
"I've always tried to act like a leader, as much as possible since I got here," the senior quarterback said. "The position I play, you have to be a leader of the offense. My biggest task is trying to build relationships with guys on defense and learn exactly how people need to be led. They know I'm tough, they know I'm a leader and they know I'm going to do things right. It's an honor and I'll continue to try to lead on and off the field as well as I can."
The Richmond Hill, Georgia, product also noted that in addition to playing the always-scrutinized position of quarterback, the microscope gets even more focused on him as one of the team's leaders.
"As a quarterback, your position is scrutinized and under a microscope twenty four-seven and people always see how you act on and off the field," Fitzgerald said. "If the quarterback is out there messing around during practice, no one else is going to be serious. You have to be on at all times and the same thing goes for being a captain—it adds another layer to that. You're the quarterback and you're the captain. Guys voted you to be there. They obviously trust in you, believe in you and look to you, so you have to act the way you want them to act on and off the field."
The task of being a team captain is no easy one, especially when Fitzgerald and Green are two of the 110 student-athletes on the roster. Because of the large amount of responsibility, the two have as student-athletes at MSU, they lean on each other to help accomplish the goals needed for success as captains.
"I feel like, over the years, I have become a better leader," Green said. "It's something I've worked towards. It's a great role and it takes a lot work. Nick and I help each other out with how we approach the role."
To these Bulldogs, being a leader is not only about talking-the-talk, but also leading by example—walking-the-walk.
"One of the biggest things is that you have to lead by example," Green said. "People are always looking at you to see how you're doing things. If they see you doing something the way it isn't supposed to be done, it's giving them the wrong sign. It's just making sure you mind your P's and Q's and doing the right thing at all times."
On April 21, these two Bulldogs—along with the rest of their teammates—felt a sense of uncertainty as to who was going to represent the team at the pregame coin toss at midfield.
That honor, as we all know, now rests upon two capable leaders.
The following feature story can be found in the Sept. 29 Mississippi State Football Game Program, which can be purchased for $5 in and around Davis Wade Stadium on Saturday.
Following Mississippi State's annual Maroon and White Spring Game on April 21, Nick Fitzgerald and Gerri Green had no idea it was coming.
The MSU duo, in the locker room with their teammates, listened intently as newly-minted head coach Joe Moorhead debriefed on the contest and the spring as a whole. At the conclusion, Moorhead made an announcement that the two seniors will remember forever—Fitzgerald and Green were voted as team captains for the 2018 season.
"It was a special moment after the spring game," Green said. "We weren't really expecting it, because it was the first time our captains had been announced in that way. Being named captain was an honor, because it came directly from our teammates. Just knowing that they wanted me to represent them, I took that whole-heartedly."
In previous years, like many teams around the country, the Bulldogs had traditionally fielded three captains—one each on offense, defense and special teams. This year, however, was different.
"[Moorhead] announced Gerri as the defensive captain and then announced me [as the offensive captain]," Fitzgerald said. "From what we understood, there was supposed to be more than Gerri and I, but when they tallied the votes it was just so one-sided on offense and defense that they just decided that we would be the captains."
Green added that, although they are captains of their specific side of the ball, they are ultimately charged with being captains of the team, as a whole. Part of that is making sure the team remains focused on the task at-hand.
"Fall camp was when we really had to make sure we and the rest of the guys were pushing through day-to-day," the senior defensive end from Greenville, Mississippi, said. "Now that the season has started, it's making sure that we're getting better each and every week, putting games behind us and moving on to the next week. One thing about being named captain is that you're not just captain of one side of the ball, you become a captain of the whole team. You have to branch out to the other side--offense and special teams--and be a whole team captain."
Branching out to the other side of the ball and building relationships with teammates, Fitzgerald agreed, is the key to winning the respect of the entire team and knowing how to lead.
"I've always tried to act like a leader, as much as possible since I got here," the senior quarterback said. "The position I play, you have to be a leader of the offense. My biggest task is trying to build relationships with guys on defense and learn exactly how people need to be led. They know I'm tough, they know I'm a leader and they know I'm going to do things right. It's an honor and I'll continue to try to lead on and off the field as well as I can."
The Richmond Hill, Georgia, product also noted that in addition to playing the always-scrutinized position of quarterback, the microscope gets even more focused on him as one of the team's leaders.
"As a quarterback, your position is scrutinized and under a microscope twenty four-seven and people always see how you act on and off the field," Fitzgerald said. "If the quarterback is out there messing around during practice, no one else is going to be serious. You have to be on at all times and the same thing goes for being a captain—it adds another layer to that. You're the quarterback and you're the captain. Guys voted you to be there. They obviously trust in you, believe in you and look to you, so you have to act the way you want them to act on and off the field."
The task of being a team captain is no easy one, especially when Fitzgerald and Green are two of the 110 student-athletes on the roster. Because of the large amount of responsibility, the two have as student-athletes at MSU, they lean on each other to help accomplish the goals needed for success as captains.
"I feel like, over the years, I have become a better leader," Green said. "It's something I've worked towards. It's a great role and it takes a lot work. Nick and I help each other out with how we approach the role."
To these Bulldogs, being a leader is not only about talking-the-talk, but also leading by example—walking-the-walk.
"One of the biggest things is that you have to lead by example," Green said. "People are always looking at you to see how you're doing things. If they see you doing something the way it isn't supposed to be done, it's giving them the wrong sign. It's just making sure you mind your P's and Q's and doing the right thing at all times."
On April 21, these two Bulldogs—along with the rest of their teammates—felt a sense of uncertainty as to who was going to represent the team at the pregame coin toss at midfield.
That honor, as we all know, now rests upon two capable leaders.
Players Mentioned
QB
/ Football
DE
/ FootballFOOTBALL | 2026 Spring Practice Media Session - Jeff Lebby
Thursday, April 16
FOOTBALL | 2026 Spring Practice Media Session - Kamario Taylor
Saturday, April 11
FOOTBALL | 2026 Spring Practice Media Session - Kelley Jones
Saturday, April 11
FOOTBALL | 2026 Spring Practice Media Session - Jeff Lebby
Saturday, April 11