Note: this will arguably be the last in a series of articles trying to assess Mel Tucker’s coaching tenure because Mel Tucker has been suspended. In fact, he was suspended for conduct unbecoming Michigan State University’s Head Football Coach. Yet, the problems for Spartan Football are just starting and the future is uncertain. I hope you find this missive informative.
The Spartans beat Richmond from the Colonial Athletic Association 45-14 last Saturday, but there is precious little to boast about by beating an FCS School and the Spartans certainly didn’t impress anyone.
In the trenches, the Spartans are still anything but dominant, heck they are not even efficient playing an FCS School.
The Spartans got 162 Yards Rushing vs Richmond but where is the progress? After all, the Spartans posted 260 Yards Rushing vs lowly Akron last season.
In fact, the Spartans compiled 457 Yards Rushing in the first two games last season vs WMU and Akron, an average of nearly 230 Yards per game and everyone celebrated…but not so fast!
The Spartans then traveled to Washington and the Rush Offense got humiliated, posting just 42 Yards Rushing.
Of course, the beat down at Washington was an omen of more bad things to come as the Spartan Rush Offense became an easy payday for opposing Big Ten Defenses last season when the Spartan Rush Offense averaged just 95 YPG.
Think about that? The Spartans averaged just 95 Rushing Yards per game in the “ground pounding” Big Ten last season. Essentially, the Spartan Rush Offense was nothing more than a holiday for opposing Big Ten Defenses.
Now comes “gun slinging” Washington 2.0.
Washington embarrassed the Spartans last season 39-28 at Seattle, but the game was never close and never in doubt.
Washington led at Halftime 29-8, yet the Spartans were scoreless until 1:30 of the 2nd Qtr.
Yet, while the Spartans were celebrating their first Touchdown and coaches were patting each other on the back, Washington received the ensuing kickoff with just 1:30 remaining in the half, went 65 Yards in 8 plays and scored with just 0:04 on the clock to take a commanding 29-8 lead into their locker room.
That Touchdown, and the final 1:30 of the half vs Washington was emblematic of Mel Tucker’s incompetence as a Head Football Coach.
Of course, the Spartans went on to lose 6 more games and finished with an embarrassing 3-6 record in the Big Ten…and 3-7 vs Power 5 opponents.
Now comes Washington 2.0 ranked #8 in the AP and deploying the #1 Pass Offense in the land, averaging a whopping 472 Yards and 50 Points per game.
It would be a grand understatement to say problems for Spartan Football are just beginning!
Mel Tucker is gone…and none too soon!
Mel Tucker was never real, he was never sincere, he talked in hackneyed coaching cliches and ultimately became an unmitigated embarrassment to Michigan State University, its 500,000 alumni as well as its fans around the world.
Although I was reticent to put it into writing before, nevertheless I can write it now: Mel Tucker was an unmitigated Con-Man.
In 25 years of coaching, Mel Tucker never spent more than 3 years at any one stop, and essentially never distinguished himself anywhere.
Tucker held just one Head Coaching prior to Michigan State and posted an “uninspiring” 5-7 record at Colorado including a pitiful 3-6 record vs PAC 12 opponents.
Of course, Mel Tucker someway, somehow convinced someone at Michigan State to hire him…and let’s make this clear, Mel Tucker should have never been hired.
In fact, when Mel Tucker was hired I wrote it was a mistake and here is an concluding statement from my blog dated Feb 12, 2020:
“The script is yet to be written, and if Mel Tucker enjoys a Championship career at Michigan State, I will gladly retract my negative outlook, but I follow “stats” because “stats” are leading indicators: the ledger; the profit/loss statement; the balance sheet if you will; and the leading indicators tell me Michigan State just went in reverse! (unquote).
I encourage you to read the entirety of my Blog dated Feb 12, 2020, I think you will find it informative and foretelling.
Michigan State hired Mel Tucker?
Thank you for reading.
Dayne Thomas
Will2Win.blog
I always welcome your comments and opinions and of course you can always click Will2Win.blog to read previous articles and related stories. New readers can also subscribe.
