How Michigan State's Mel Tucker really feels about Ford Field game, Noah Kim at QB
Michigan State football coach Mel Tucker addressed the media Wednesday at Big Ten Media Day in Indianapolis.
The fourth-year coach discussed the Spartans' growth over the offseason, the upcoming game against Penn State at Ford Field in Detroit, the hazing allegations at Northwestern and much more at Lucas Oil Stadium.
The Spartans finished 5–7 last season and did not participate in a bowl game for the second time in three years.
Here is everything Tucker said at the podium on Wednesday:
Mel Tucker opening statement at 2023 Big Ten media day
"Thanks everyone for being here today. It's great to see everyone again as we begin the season. We have a hungry, determined and very focused football team heading into preseason camp. Our players have worked extremely hard in this offseason and are very, very well prepared to start camp next week. We have competition at every single position and probably, no doubt the most talent that we've had top to bottom on our roster. We needed more quality depth on our roster and we addressed that this offseason. I believe competition forces you to be at your best each and every day and that's how we'll reach our full potential. I believe we have more team chemistry going into the season, which is very important. We've done more team building activities and events than we've ever done and has really brought our team close together, not just the players but but the coaches and the support staff as well.
Last season was a tremendous learning experience for us. Not just for the players, but for the coaches and support staff. Again, we're really, really hungry and excited to get going. I know one thing about this group of players and this group of coaches: We're going to roll our sleeves up and come to work. Every single day with a relentless mindset. We have three core values at Michigan State three core values, tough discipline and selfless. That's what we're all about. So with that, I'm excited to get going next week and I'll open up for questions.
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On the development of Noah Kim in Michigan State QB race
"Noah is a tremendously talented young man. He's a winner. He's got a lot of arm talent. He's very poised. He's very athletic. He's one of the fastest players on our team, in the top 20 fastest players on our team. He's got some experience when he went in games last season. As you remember, he made it look easy. He's just got the demeanor that we're looking for. He's a guy that knows our offense, and he's going to do what we ask him to do. He's going to execute."
On how he'll address his team in wake of Northwestern hazing allegations
"Yeah, our culture is very strong and our culture starts with with connection, and authentic relationships and mutual respect. We have that. You know, we do have a anti hazing Policy at the University and on our football team. Our players know that. I've talked to our athletic director, Alan Haller, and that's going to be one of the topics that we're going to cover when we were when we report the camp next Wednesday."
On lessons Mel Tucker learned in Year 3 and how things might be different in Year 4
"Yeah, well, you know, Football is a game of attrition, and injury is is a part of the game. You know, we had to modify the way we practice. We want to make sure we can get our players to the games. And so, you know, we changed the way we did some things in spring ball which was very effective. You know how we hit, when we hit, how often we hit. We did a much better job of staying up and staying off the ground. The studies that we did about it with our team in the off-season showed that when players are on the ground in practice, that's when they get hurt the most. So we just modified the way we did some things in spring ball which really helped us be more productive. Keep guys more healthy, staying on the field getting better. We're going to carry that into the fall camp. I think that's going to be a huge benefit for us moving forward."
On pros and cons of playing Penn State at Ford Field
"This season is going to be a tremendous opportunity for our players great exposure for our for our program, a national audience in a pro football arena, which I think is going to be great for our for our team. It's going to be a great game will be in the, in the Detroit area where we recruit. We have a lot of fans there. So and I think that it's a great opportunity. You know, we'll see how it goes. But I'm looking forward to it."
On conflict of interest between donors and NIL deals
"We have tremendous support at Michigan State with our donors, our supporters. You know, we're strong in the NIL space, and we're going to continue to be strong, but we have we have a lot of our supporters. Our donors are willing to step up and help our young men and so that's not going to be an issue for us."
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On Deion Sanders at Colorado and MSU's usage of the transfer portal
"Yeah, Prime has done a great job so far. I'm pulling for him and the Buffs to get that thing going again.And, you know, he's got his own process that he's following obviously, and I think he's gonna be wildly successful there. The portal has been a benefit for us. You know, we've used it to help upgrade our roster. We can fill some needs immediately. You know, some of the downside is that we all know there's hundreds if not thousands of players that have entered the portal haven't found a home and that's disturbing. But for us, the portal is here, and we're going to use it to benefit our program any way that we can."
On team building activities Spartans used during the off-season
"Yeah, you know, just what whether they're dinners or dodgeball tournaments or kickball games or going to the movies and things. Just activities getting our guys together along with the staff, getting to know each other. I mean, especially when you have so many, so many newcomers every year whether it's a freshman or transfer guys, it's important that we connect. We want the players to get to know each other outside of football, which is very important. You know, we've organized more of those activities than we've ever done. And in addition to that, the players have done things on their own, which is even more significant. I think so. And we've also brought in these outside firms to come in and work with our players on team building and leadership and team cohesiveness. And so, with all those things, I feel like our team is closer than we've ever been."
On first road matchup against Iowa this season
"Yeah well that's a tough place to play, we all know that. Even when I played for Coach (Barry) Alvarez at at Wisconsin, you always knew you got to strap it up when you went there. But you know that game is a ways away and right now we're focused on camp. You know, we start up on on Wednesday and we're going to take it one game at a time but you know, our guys will be preparing and they're gonna play hard."
On the improvement of the defense heading into the year
"You know, we're we're a lot healthier now and we're at full strength. We really know addressed some issues with our front seven. We needed to get bigger. We've added three 6-foot 5 300 plus pound defensive tackles that have all played a major college football. We added four defensive ends, three of them are four stars and one Tunmise Adeleye, a transfer from Texas A&M, who walked in the door at 280. And then you know Aaron Brule decided to come back, Jacoby Windmon decided to come back for another year along with Cal Haladay. And then you know, Jordan Hall you saw in the spring had a really good spring and you know Ma'a Gaoteote is still there. So I think our front seven is more stout, which is going to help us stop the run and make teams more one dimensional and it's going to help us in the back end."
This article originally appeared on Mississippi Clarion Ledger: How Michigan State football's Mel Tucker feels about Ford Field game
