University of Georgia Athletics
Quick Chat: John FitzPatrick
August 30, 2021 | Football, The Frierson Files
By John Frierson
Staff Writer
Two years ago, when John FitzPatrick sat down for his first Quick Chat, the Georgia tight end was a redshirt freshman that hadn't yet caught his first pass as a Bulldog.
When the 6-foot-7 and 250-pounder from Atlanta sat down for another Chat on Monday morning, he did so as a redshirt junior and as a UGA graduate: FitzPatrick graduated in May with a degree in Real Estate. He also sat down as an established contributor after starting five games and catching 10 passes for 95 yards and a touchdown during the 2020 season.
In Georgia's 24-21 Peach Bowl win over Cincinnati on Jan. 1, FitzPatrick had a career game with four receptions for 41 yards, and he dove on a teammate's fumble in the third quarter. On Saturday night, FitzPatrick and the fifth-ranked Bulldogs will kick off their season against No. 2 Clemson, in Charlotte, N.C.
During our Chat, FitzPatrick talked about growing during his time at Georgia, what it's like to live with a couple of teammates, his plans for the future, and much more. Here's some of what he had to say:
Frierson: Do you feel like your college career is flying by, or does it feel like it has gone slowly because of the way the pandemic has altered so many things?
FitzPatrick: I feel like it's a combination of both. It's definitely flown by. I remember coming with (fellow tight ends) Isaac Nauta, Jackson Harris, Charlie (Woerner) and Luke Ford, and being around 230 (pounds) as a freshman. Now I feel more confident, I've gained weight, I've had experience in games, and it's been a transition.
Coach (Kirby) Smart and Coach (Todd) Hartley have helped me a great deal with that.
Frierson: Speaking of games, you had a great game against Cincinnati. How satisfying was the moment, being so involved and making so many important plays in a tight game?
FitzPatrick: It was very satisfying. It's exciting to feel a part of it, but then again you feel a part of it every time, in practice, in the games, whether you're catching balls or you're catching no balls. You're involved in the run game, you're involved in special teams. I think that goes for all of the players, you're a part of it in some capacity no matter what.
Every game's going to be different, obviously. Throughout freshman and sophomore year, it's all about trusting in the plan. If the hard work doesn't come to fruition right away, it will as you stay with Coach (Scott) Sinclair, Coach Hartley and Coach Smart, and trusting their process and their plan that they have for you.
Frierson: Does it feel real to be a graduate and a third-year player?
FitzPatrick: It feels real, just because there have been so many different experiences, so many highs and lows that have allowed me to be where I am today and feel confident in who I am today.
Talking to you two years ago, I was a different person, definitely. I feel like the highs and lows throughout my career have allowed me to grow as a person and as a player.
Frierson: Away from football, what are you way better at now than you were a year ago?
FitzPatrick: Maybe just confidence in myself. I try to take a lot from the football field to off the field, taking principles of life and attacking each day with the mentality to get 1% better each and every day and don't waste any day. Coach Hartley talks to us a lot about how time doesn't last forever so you want to make the most of your opportunity when you're here.
Frierson: If you're not playing football in 10 years, do you know what you want to be doing?
FitzPatrick: I want to start out in a more general finance role on the investment side of things — possibly investment banking, wealth management. And then when I get older I'll go into development, possibly. I've also thought about how I love talking about sports and I love talking to people, so possibly something in sports broadcasting.
Frierson: What is it like living with a couple of football players? Is someone always eating? Do you guys watch film together in the living room?
FitzPatrick: We have a football so that's always getting thrown around. Someone's definitely always eating, 100%. (Offensive lineman Owen Condon) most of the time is always eating, I'm all the time eating, and the other, (quarterback Stetson Bennett), he doesn't eat as much.
Football's always talked about in some fashion, whether it's practice from today or who did this to who today in practice or stuff in the locker room.
Frierson: Does it feel like a game week? Without looking at a calendar, do you know that it's a game week because there's a different excitement, energy or intensity at practice and around the program?
FitzPatrick: Yeah, you can tell. The level of intensity these last practices when they weren't necessarily game week, but they were. I guess we started a little bit early. You know that's going to carry over to today and this whole week. You can tell that there's just a heightened level of intensity.
(This Q&A was lightly edited for length and clarity.)
Staff Writer
Two years ago, when John FitzPatrick sat down for his first Quick Chat, the Georgia tight end was a redshirt freshman that hadn't yet caught his first pass as a Bulldog.
When the 6-foot-7 and 250-pounder from Atlanta sat down for another Chat on Monday morning, he did so as a redshirt junior and as a UGA graduate: FitzPatrick graduated in May with a degree in Real Estate. He also sat down as an established contributor after starting five games and catching 10 passes for 95 yards and a touchdown during the 2020 season.
In Georgia's 24-21 Peach Bowl win over Cincinnati on Jan. 1, FitzPatrick had a career game with four receptions for 41 yards, and he dove on a teammate's fumble in the third quarter. On Saturday night, FitzPatrick and the fifth-ranked Bulldogs will kick off their season against No. 2 Clemson, in Charlotte, N.C.
During our Chat, FitzPatrick talked about growing during his time at Georgia, what it's like to live with a couple of teammates, his plans for the future, and much more. Here's some of what he had to say:
Frierson: Do you feel like your college career is flying by, or does it feel like it has gone slowly because of the way the pandemic has altered so many things?
FitzPatrick: I feel like it's a combination of both. It's definitely flown by. I remember coming with (fellow tight ends) Isaac Nauta, Jackson Harris, Charlie (Woerner) and Luke Ford, and being around 230 (pounds) as a freshman. Now I feel more confident, I've gained weight, I've had experience in games, and it's been a transition.
Coach (Kirby) Smart and Coach (Todd) Hartley have helped me a great deal with that.
Frierson: Speaking of games, you had a great game against Cincinnati. How satisfying was the moment, being so involved and making so many important plays in a tight game?
FitzPatrick: It was very satisfying. It's exciting to feel a part of it, but then again you feel a part of it every time, in practice, in the games, whether you're catching balls or you're catching no balls. You're involved in the run game, you're involved in special teams. I think that goes for all of the players, you're a part of it in some capacity no matter what.
Every game's going to be different, obviously. Throughout freshman and sophomore year, it's all about trusting in the plan. If the hard work doesn't come to fruition right away, it will as you stay with Coach (Scott) Sinclair, Coach Hartley and Coach Smart, and trusting their process and their plan that they have for you.
Frierson: Does it feel real to be a graduate and a third-year player?
FitzPatrick: It feels real, just because there have been so many different experiences, so many highs and lows that have allowed me to be where I am today and feel confident in who I am today.
Talking to you two years ago, I was a different person, definitely. I feel like the highs and lows throughout my career have allowed me to grow as a person and as a player.
Frierson: Away from football, what are you way better at now than you were a year ago?
FitzPatrick: Maybe just confidence in myself. I try to take a lot from the football field to off the field, taking principles of life and attacking each day with the mentality to get 1% better each and every day and don't waste any day. Coach Hartley talks to us a lot about how time doesn't last forever so you want to make the most of your opportunity when you're here.
Frierson: If you're not playing football in 10 years, do you know what you want to be doing?
FitzPatrick: I want to start out in a more general finance role on the investment side of things — possibly investment banking, wealth management. And then when I get older I'll go into development, possibly. I've also thought about how I love talking about sports and I love talking to people, so possibly something in sports broadcasting.
Frierson: What is it like living with a couple of football players? Is someone always eating? Do you guys watch film together in the living room?
FitzPatrick: We have a football so that's always getting thrown around. Someone's definitely always eating, 100%. (Offensive lineman Owen Condon) most of the time is always eating, I'm all the time eating, and the other, (quarterback Stetson Bennett), he doesn't eat as much.
Football's always talked about in some fashion, whether it's practice from today or who did this to who today in practice or stuff in the locker room.
Frierson: Does it feel like a game week? Without looking at a calendar, do you know that it's a game week because there's a different excitement, energy or intensity at practice and around the program?
FitzPatrick: Yeah, you can tell. The level of intensity these last practices when they weren't necessarily game week, but they were. I guess we started a little bit early. You know that's going to carry over to today and this whole week. You can tell that there's just a heightened level of intensity.
(This Q&A was lightly edited for length and clarity.)
Assistant Sports Communications Director John Frierson is the staff writer for the UGA Athletic Association and curator of the ITA Men's Tennis Hall of Fame. You can find his work at: Frierson Files. He's also on Twitter: @FriersonFiles and @ITAHallofFame.
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