Category: Mel Tucker

Cowherd: Mel Tucker and Michigan State football ‘close’ on negotiations

BREAKING: Colin Cowherd is reporting Michigan State and Mel Tucker are “close” on contract extension

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It appears Michigan State is close to locking up Mel Tucker as its head football coach for a while.

Earlier this week, it was reported by Rico Beard of 97.1 The Ticket that Michigan State and Tucker were working on a contract extension with a sizeable pay raise. On Saturday, that report was further supported by national sports radio host Colin Cowherd of Fox Sports.

Cowherd tweeted on Saturday morning that Michigan State and Tucker are “close to a new deal” and that negotiations are “moving quickly.” The new deal is also considered a “huge” offer by Cowherd.

See the full tweet from Cowherd below:

Tucker has been rumored as a candidate to take over at LSU, with some believing he’d be the favorite for that opening. However, a contract extension for Tucker would end any concerns of him leaving after this season.

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RUMOR: Mel Tucker to sign huge, long-term extension with Michigan State football

RUMOR: Mel Tucker to sign huge, long-term extension with Michigan State football

The rumor mill has been swirling all year around Mel Tucker and his future with Michigan State football, which isn’t surprising given the turnaround we have seen with the Spartans this season.

The biggest rumor has been Mel Tucker to LSU to replace Coach Orgeron. While some MSU fans are spooked considering the way in which Tucker came to Michigan State from Colorado, the latest rumors are that he is actually in line to get a massive pay raise from MSU to stick around.

Rico Beard went on 97.1 The Ticket on Thursday to calm listeners’ nerves and assure them that, per his sources, Tucker isn’t going anywhere.

“I have sources who said it appears that Mel Tucker is going to be getting a contract extension with money around $6.8 to $7.8 million (per year) with escalators and bonuses that could take him up even higher,” said Beard, adding that the news is “unconfirmed.”

If this happens, which it should, this would be a smart series of moves from Tucker. It was smart of him to keep his cards close to his vest in order to get him and his staff more money. It would also be smart for him to stick around with the Spartans, who will give him much more patience than he would get at LSU, where they are ready to fire a coach who won them a national championship.

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WATCH: Mel Tucker seemingly takes shot at Jim Harbaugh, coaches who whine about ‘bad calls’

WATCH: Mel Tucker seemingly takes shot at Jim Harbaugh, coaches who whine about ‘bad calls’

The second that time expired following Michigan State football’s huge win over Michigan, MSU fans knew that the Wolverines’ fans, coaches and players would start with the excuses. Like clockwork, that has been exactly the case, with Michigan coach Jim Harbaugh leading the way, complaining about multiple calls from the match-up.

At his presser on Monday, MSU head coach seemed to take a shot at Harbaugh after he was asked about a questionable call from the Spartans’ loss on Saturday to Purdue.

You can see his response below:

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Mel Tucker picked as Dodd Trophy Coach of the Week after win over UM

Michigan State head coach Mel Tucker has been selected as the Dodd Trophy Coach of the Week

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Michigan State head coach Mel Tucker has been selected as the Dodd Trophy Coach of the Week.

Tucker’s Spartans picked up an impressive victory over previously-No. 6 Michigan this past weekend to remain undefeated on the season. Michigan State trailed by as many as 16 points in the second half before coming back to win by a score of 37-33.

The Dodd Trophy is handed out at the end of the year to the best college football coach for the season. Tucker certainly will be part of that conversation if Michigan State continues to win.

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Mel Tucker’s post-game comments after huge win over rival Michigan

Check out Mel Tucker’s post-game comments after beating Michigan

Mel Tucker has become the first coach in Michigan State history to win his first two games against in-state rival Michigan. It was a massive win for the Spartans to improve to 8-0 and position themselves to compete for a Big Ten title in the month of November.

Michigan State overcame a 16-point deficit in the game, at one point trailing 30-14 late in the third quarter, and ended the game on a 23-3 run, taking home the win 37-33.

An emotional win for the Michigan State football program, and a statement win for Mel Tucker’s tenure at the helm in East Lansing.

Check out what Mel Tucker had to say after his huge win over the University of Michigan:

Mel Tucker on LSU coaching rumors, his thoughts on Michigan’s team, and more in weekly presser

Mel Tucker on LSU coaching rumors, his thoughts on Michigan’s team, and more in weekly presser

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Michigan State football vs. Michigan. This is a game that would still be circled on the schedule even if both teams were awful. But that’s not the case. This year, both teams are undefeated and competing for a Big Ten title and beyond.

In what will be the biggest test for the Spartans to date, Mel Tucker and a few of his players spoke to the media on Monday to preview a huge week.

Michigan State football moves up one spot in AP Poll during bye week

Michigan State football moves up one spot in AP Poll during bye week

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It might have been a bye week for Michigan State football, but they were still able to move up at least one of the polls this weekend. The Spartans are now at No. 8 in the AP Poll, up from No. 9.

They take Oklahoma State’s spot after the Cowboys lost a close one to Iowa State.

The Spartans are two spots behind Michigan, who they of course will play this weekend.

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Michigan State football coach Mel Tucker named to Dodd Trophy watch list

Tuck Comin! Mel Tucker has been named to the Dodd Trophy watch list

The head man of the Michigan State football program Mel Tucker has turned a lot of heads this season, leading the Spartans to a 7-0 start to the season.

Coming off of a 2-5 season in 2020, expectations were not that high coming into the 2021 campaign, but that didn’t stop Tucker from shattering them all.

The rise of the Spartans, seemingly from out of nowhere, is a huge feather in Tucker’s cap. Tucker’s accomplishment this season has garnered a lot of national attention and that is shown again when Tucker was named to the Dodd Trophy watch-list.

The trophy, named after the legendary coach Bobby Dodd, is a coach of the year award that is annually given to the head coach whose team excels on the field, in the classroom and in the community.

Mel Tucker has a chance to be the first coach in Michigan State history to win the Dodd Trophy.

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Mel Tucker named Big Ten’s ‘Coach of the First Half’ by Associated Press

Mel Tucker is the unanimous choice for Big Ten Coach of the First Half by the Associated Press

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If the season ended today, Michigan State’s Mel Tucker would be the Associated Press’ choice for Big Ten Coach of the Year.

Numerous media outlets are releasing their midseason awards and honors, and that includes the Associated Press (AP) that pegged Tucker for the league’s “coach of the first half” award. He was considered a unanimous choice.

Michigan State was also selected as the most surprising team and running back Kenneth Walker was selected as the most surprising player in the Big Ten by the AP writers that cover the conference.

Check out the complete midseason awards from AP by clicking on the tweet below:

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Michigan State football jumps two spots in latest AFCA Coaches Poll following road win over Indiana

Michigan State football jumps two spots in latest AFCA Coaches Poll following road win over Indiana

They had to earn it, but Michigan State football was able to go to 7-0 on the season following a tough road win over Indiana. While the game was a little too close for comfort for many fans, a win is a win and it was enough to move the Spartans up two spots to No. 7 in the latest USA TODAY AFCA Coaches Poll.

The Spartans leapfrogged Penn State and now sit one spot behind No. 6 Michigan and two spots behind No. 5 Ohio State. Alabama is No. 4. That might frustrate some fans given that Ohio State and Alabama both have one loss, but that’s the kind of mercy you get in the polls when you are a top program. Michigan was also able to stay in front of MSU despite having one less win on the season.

On the flip side, Iowa dropped all the way from No. 2 to No. 11 following an embarrassing loss at home against Purdue.

The Spartans will get a much needed bye week before they face Michigan on Oct. 30.

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