Ep. 14 The Untold Story: Leaving OSU Football, 3X All-American/Hall of Famer | John Fitzgerald ROK Podcast

In this episode of The ROK Podcast, we spotlight the remarkable journey of John Fitzgerald, a 3X All-American and UCO Hall of Famer. Starting his football career at Oklahoma State University, John's path took an unexpected twist when he left OSU under mysterious circumstances that neither he nor his coaches fully understood. What could have been a career-ending setback instead became a turning point.

John found new life at the University of Central Oklahoma, where his talent truly shined. At UCO, he worked tirelessly to transform himself into one of the program’s all-time greats, earning multiple All-American honors and a place in the UCO Hall of Fame. His story is about more than just football—it’s a testament to resilience, perseverance, and embracing second chances.

In this episode, John reflects on the emotional journey of leaving OSU, his rise to success at UCO, and the lessons he learned about overcoming challenges. Tune in for an inside look at how John’s unexpected journey led him to greatness.

Chapters

• 0:00 Intro - John Fitzgerald
• 2:25 Being a 3X All-American
• 4:29 The Family
• 5:10 Little Johnny
• 15:35 Football at PC North
• 25:44 College Recruiting
• 35:44 Committing to OSU
• 38:16 Severe Anxiety Sets In
• 40:10 Headed to SNU on to UCO
• 53:50 Memorable Games
• 56:53 Shootout at Western Sizzlin'
• 58:57 Becoming a Hall of Famer
• 1:01:24 Around the Team / Mentoring
• 1:05:55 Football Experience & Growth
• 1:06:43 NFL Aspirations
• 1:09:35 Life After Sports
• 1:18:54 Momentum Shift