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Michigan State

Mel Tucker shares his memories of rivalry with Michigan

20200517_134556by: Justin Rudolph10/27/22
Michigan State coach Mel Tucker
Michigan State coach Mel Tucker and his team are under the microscope after a loss to Michigan. (Getty Images)

The rivalry between Michigan and Michigan State is arguably one of the most heated ones in college football. The Spartans’ head coach played in the Big Ten at another rival school, Wisconsin, and is familiar with the rivalry. When speaking to the media earlier in the week, Tucker shared his memories of the matchup and explained how the rivalry has changed since then.

“I just know it was a big game. And I don’t remember all that much about it other than it was a big game; It was a typical rivalry game. It was important. So, I remember that. And I’m not sure how much has changed. It’s still a rivalry game; it’s still an important game,” said Tucker.

Last season, Tucker was able to lead the Spartans to a 37-33 victory over the Wolverines. His Michigan State squad was the only Big Ten team to defeat the eventual conference champions, ending their seven-game-win streak at the time. This season he is looking to repeat history and stop the Wolverines’ seven-game win streak to start the season. A victory against their rival on Saturday will go a long way toward turning around the Spartans’ season. They currently sit at 3-4 with a 1-3 record in conference play.

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What Mel Tucker said about Michigan football before in-state rivalry matchup

Michigan is a 21.5-point favorite over the 3-4 Spartans, a nearly identical spread to the 2020 game in which MSU won, 24-21 in front of no fans at The Big House. Tucker, who’s 16-11 as MSU’s head man, called “not just another game for us.”

“Just play complementary football for 60 minutes, be tough, be selfless, be disciplined,” Tucker, who posted a 5-7 record at Colorado in 2019 before leaving for Michigan State, said Monday of if the Spartans can take anything from the 2020 contest. “Take care of the football. The week before we played that game, we turned the ball over seven times. We didn’t turn the ball over that week. We were able to get the win.

“We’re preparing to go down there and play a game. It takes intentional focus, it takes toughness, discipline, being selfless. That what it takes. Whether you want to call it circle the wagons or a bunker mentality or taking it to the mattresses or us against the world — whatever you want to call it — it is what it is. Nothing has changed, it’s always going to be that way.”