OT: Freep A1: Mel Tucker is all over the place and Michigan State football's direction is unclear
This is a stunning indictment of Mel Tucker and the state of State’s football program. Only about 85 million bucks and nine seasons left on his guaranteed contract.
August 28th, 2023 at 9:18 AM ^
Tucker once declared, “If you can't recruit at Michigan State, you probably can't recruit.”
So true, Mel.
August 28th, 2023 at 10:16 AM ^
Oooooh, new FFB Team name. Yippie Kai Ay, Melvin Tucker. When does the season start? I’m struggling
August 28th, 2023 at 3:14 PM ^
LSA - that just flows soooo well 🤣🤣
August 28th, 2023 at 12:54 PM ^
Only to be topped by..."I'm a horseshit coach".
August 28th, 2023 at 2:15 PM ^
MSU's 2022 fluke win (overturned sack, fumble, td) over UM is the equivalent of Notre Dame's 2005, 31-34 "defeat with dignity - victory" against USC.
They are now saddled with an absurd contract for a mediocre at best coach for a decade due to the exuberance of 1 game. Mellllll = Charlie Weiss
LOL
August 28th, 2023 at 9:19 AM ^
You hate to see it.
August 28th, 2023 at 9:39 AM ^
But more than that, you love to see it.
August 28th, 2023 at 10:21 AM ^
Additionally, you really, really LOVE to see it.
.... in certain cases...
August 30th, 2023 at 10:23 PM ^
The Dantonio “pride comes before the fall” quip is ringing true.
August 28th, 2023 at 9:22 AM ^
Poor Rainer couldn't find any reasons to troll Michigan.
August 28th, 2023 at 12:13 PM ^
Rainer still works at the Freep? Both he and that paper have become so irrelevant I didn't even know that.
August 28th, 2023 at 12:19 PM ^
Me neither. I pay a $1/month or whatever it is for the detroit news. They do a decent job as long as you avoid the opinion section. As if the Rosenberg crap wasn't enough for the freep, going full UofM troll mode made them irrelevant to me also.
August 28th, 2023 at 3:27 PM ^
To be fair, it's kinda bogus for us to spend years saying, "Rainer is full of shit and his takes are garbage," when he rips Michigan, but then trumpet his opinion as fact when he rips Sparty. I believe in the former so I'll take this article at half-faith. It'll all play out on the field, anyway.
August 28th, 2023 at 9:39 AM ^
The mojo has faded to the point that MSU is picked to finish fifth in its division and is now spinning its wheels along the recruiting trail as well. So far, the Spartans have assembled a 2024 class ranked 52nd in 247Sports’ index and slotted below 14 of the 18 teams in the expanded Big Ten set to take shape next year.
August 28th, 2023 at 10:41 AM ^
Not my proudest fap
August 28th, 2023 at 11:22 AM ^
"Instead, he is absolving himself of some responsibility and passing the buck, blaming MSU’s shortcomings on what he doesn’t have rather than acknowledging all that he has managed to squander. That, too, is becoming a bad habit."
August 29th, 2023 at 10:53 AM ^
No spin...just pure facts.
August 28th, 2023 at 10:38 AM ^
Hey, MSU fans are working themselves into a fervor by saying Tucker will prove all the doubters wrong by going... 7.5.
August 28th, 2023 at 11:15 AM ^
And, in my darkest nightmares I will agree with them until he is dismissed for being the second coming of John L. Williams.
I frequently said in these pages that I was confident Tucker was going to be a monumental pain in our asses for years to come. Hope that I continue to be wrong, but PBS (post-BPONE syndrome) is strong.
August 28th, 2023 at 12:21 PM ^
Heyyy yooooo.....
August 28th, 2023 at 10:39 AM ^
MORE LIKE "SUCK COMIN'" HAS ANYONE DONE THIS YET
August 28th, 2023 at 9:24 AM ^
I think it is pretty clear that Mel is out of his element and that the role is beyond his capabilities.
August 28th, 2023 at 9:31 AM ^
Tuck is the real reason that MSU’s interim president is bolting. Dealing with that chaos and drama is the last thing a leader wants to face.
August 28th, 2023 at 9:57 AM ^
Don’t sell the MSU Board of Trustees short. They are their own SPECTACULAR dumpster fire…
August 28th, 2023 at 12:23 PM ^
....and their fans are circling the dumpster...
August 28th, 2023 at 9:49 AM ^
but but but that can't be true lynn henning said the opposite! several times!!!
August 28th, 2023 at 7:05 PM ^
You’re out of your element, Melly!
August 28th, 2023 at 9:27 AM ^
This is the most hilarious possible outcome for the post-Dantonio era of Spartan football. Watching that program wither and die over the next few years under Tucker will be a chef's kiss on top of cheering on Michigan as they play their best and most meaningful football since people were still worried about Y2K.
August 28th, 2023 at 10:43 AM ^
Then again, is it really any different from Carr-to-Rodriguez/Hoke?
Actually, I guess it is. Tuck got all the support in the world from that program whereas RR was swimming upstream from day 1.
August 28th, 2023 at 11:02 AM ^
Yeah its different - we didn't give Hoke a 10 year, $95M contract extension after his first season
August 28th, 2023 at 9:27 AM ^
Oh, the direction is clear….the direction is a downward spiral. Best #52 recruiting class money can buy right there. Yeah, you hate to see it….
August 28th, 2023 at 3:18 PM ^
What's insane is that Colorado will probably be better than State this year...they did well to unload that Tuck.
August 28th, 2023 at 9:30 AM ^
I guess this is one Freep link that'll be allowed?
Regardless, Rainer sucks. Everything he writes is a "hot take"...a troll job...or something meant to inflame emotion and reaction.
August 28th, 2023 at 9:38 AM ^
Yes, very true. Lets drive millions to his MSU article so he can make money writing crap MSU takes instead of Michigan ones.
August 28th, 2023 at 10:20 AM ^
How many people do you think the user board on this site could possibly send? I was under the impression that MGoBoard didn't get anywhere near as much traffic as MGoBlog proper, not to mention the fact that many people don't click the links to articles they comment on. That said, I wouldn't have posted this article, but it's a fun comment section here.
August 28th, 2023 at 12:00 PM ^
Seth has indeed previously stated that the MGoBlog main page gets lots more traffic than the MGoBoard. Personally, I spent way more time perusing the board...but I guess we're the weird ones.
August 28th, 2023 at 12:17 PM ^
I mean, how much is there to peruse on the main page? You read the content, and then... ??? Do people go elsewhere and read things?
August 28th, 2023 at 11:05 AM ^
Fuck the freep
August 28th, 2023 at 9:30 AM ^
and nine seasons left on his guaranteed contract.
So, the next nine games against them are guaranteed wins then...
That works.
August 28th, 2023 at 9:32 AM ^
MSU should probably be decisive and cut the cord after this year (assuming a "New Mel" does not magically appear). Horrific decision to extend him for big bucks on a one-year lottery pick out of the portal, but as bad to continue to keep him. He's always going to have reasons for underperformance -- facilities, NIL, tough schedule this year (true) -- but none of that kept Dantonio from performing. No inherent reason why Sparty could not drop to the bottom quarter of the new B10 for a long while if they stick with Mel. If you're looking to save money, start looking really closely at everything going on and try to get a "for cause," but either way, this looks like long-term trouble for Sparty. As someone said above, you hate to see it.
August 28th, 2023 at 9:44 AM ^
They had their opportunity to fire him for cause after the tunnel incident. I'm not saying they should have, but they probably could have. However, MSU's instinctual reaction to any outside criticism is to circle the wagons, so they missed that opportunity.
Hey, at least they will always have those two wins against Michigan!
August 28th, 2023 at 9:51 AM ^
Tuck stayin'
August 28th, 2023 at 10:08 AM ^
Steps;
1. MSU hires a couple of private investigators
2. they dig up dirt on Mel
3. Fire Mel for Cause
4. Profit
August 28th, 2023 at 12:07 PM ^
Call Sam @ 666-666- 6666…
August 28th, 2023 at 2:24 PM ^
There's a girl in Ohio or Nebraska or something that Urbz came in....can't remember the whole story, but she'll get the job done. Send her to EL
August 28th, 2023 at 1:50 PM ^
Grampy - I was going to post something similar. My guess is - Ishbia and other major Spartan donors / boosters have already requested a copy of Mel's contract - which should be available through an FOIA inquiry. And, their attorneys have been asked to make "absolutely clear" the provisions that warrant Termination for Cause.
Then - they have another group creating scenarios where the above referenced "for cause" items can actually take place.
I've heard a rumor that if someone comes up with an idea - AND - is able to execute it, such that "for cause" can be invoked by December 31st of this year - there's a $1M bonus.
August 28th, 2023 at 9:34 AM ^
Chuck, respectfully, I look at this quite differently. After this (the ‘23) season - Mel will have 8 years remaining on his contract - and, his buyout will only be $76M.
Mel is the perfect fit for the green & white. And, just think - if it wasn’t for Dantonio sticking around for an extra month or so to earn an extra bonus - a very different coach might be in EL today
A few years ago, when Dantonio retired, teams’ coaching changes were essentially done - and, there weren’t any / many experienced head coaches available on the annual coaching carousel.
Though - think of how Colorado fans must feel. If Dantonio didn’t retire when he did - Mel might have stayed in Boulder - and, that might mean - no Coach Prime with the Buffalos.
If the powers that be do anything in EL, I hope they are wise enough to do two things. First, give Mel a raise, and second - extend his contract to a lifetime agreement.
P.S. - in situations like this, there are three possible “directions”. One - you’re treading water - no change in direction; second - things are improving; and third - things are getting worse. You don’t need a compass to figure out the direction the Spartans are going.
August 28th, 2023 at 9:47 AM ^
The extra kick in the pants from Dantonio didn't help, but I don't recall anyone lining up to take that job when it was pretty clear he was on his way out. Mel's initial contract was also pretty good if I recall correctly, so if anyone reasonable was available they probably would have paid up for them.