Veteran Florida journalist admires UK senior Abule Abadi-Fitzgerald and his parents

Abule Abadi-Fitzgerald with his parents, Teri and Steve Fitzgerald. (Twitter Photo)

Senior defensive lineman Abule Abadi-Fitzgerald has been patiently working to improve and get a chance to play full time the last four years at Kentucky and could turn out to be a key contributor for UK’s defense this season. If that happens, no one will be happier for the 6-6, 295-pound Abadi-Fitzgerald than Jim Donnelly.

“You don’t find many people like Abule in this world,” said Donnelly. “He is a wonderful human being. Kind, funny, quiet, humble, incredibly polite, smart, and a very gifted athlete. He’s the kind of person you hope your kid grows up to be.”

That’s the kind of praise you like to hear about any player but the good thing about this senior is that coaches really believe he’s ready to play a major role for the defense.

“I hope he turns out to be the player his coaches believe he can be because everyone who watched him grow up in Coral Springs (Fla.) and Lakeland (Fla.) are sure rooting for him,” Donnelly said. “His American parents are the best role models he could have ever asked for.

“Imagine leaving your home country to go live with another family.

It’s (the movie) “Blindside” without the rich family. Just good Christian people and a home full of love. I don’t know if I could do it, but he did it and the smile never left his face.”

The UK senior is originally from Yenagoa, Nigeria. He moved to the United States at age 12 and was adopted by Teri and Steve Fitzgerald and joined seven new siblings here. He says he has approximately 40 siblings in Nigeria.

Basketball was his sport of choice and Steve Fitzgerald was his high school basketball coach. But once he tried football, he blossomed despite his lack of experience.

“I’ve been a journalist for over 38 years in South Florida as a sports/news videographer,then photographer. I shot for the Dolphins, Marlins, and Heat as well as Homestead Motor Speedway,” Donnelly said.

“His American father has over 300 wins as a basketball coach and is one of the most well-respected coaches I’ve met. As teachers, both Steve and his wife stress the classroom work as well as the sports work. Abule excels at both. As do most of the Fitzgerald children. Kinda hard not to in that family.”