Michigan State football is a program that is licking it’s wounds right now. The Spartans are banged up, and coming off a frustrating loss to Indiana on Saturday, but Mel Tucker seems determined to finish the season off on a proud note.
Coach Tucker spoke to the media on Monday before the Spartans head to Happy Valley to face Penn State, and you can find the best quotes from that press conference below.
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Mel Tucker: We have a lot to play for
MSU football coach Mel Tucker: "We have a lot to play for." Mentions trophy game first (@LandGrantTrophy!!!), then playing top-10 PSU, "And obviously, it's the next game & the last regular-season game and guaranteed opportunity for us. It's huge." Doesn't say "bowl eligibility."
— Chris Solari (@chrissolari) November 21, 2022
On the run defense
Tucker: "Our run defense has struggled, and it has been progressively not up to par as we've gone."
— Chris Solari (@chrissolari) November 21, 2022
On the injuries
Tucker says MSU doesn't have enough healthy bodies to hit during practice right now "It's been like that for the last three weeks because we don't have enough guys to practice … so we're just trying to get guys to the game, so that we have enough guys to be able to play."
— Chris Solari (@chrissolari) November 21, 2022
On the 8 suspended players
Tucker says he has no update on MSU's eight suspended players or if they could be available this week.
— Chris Solari (@chrissolari) November 21, 2022
On taking responsiblity
Tucker: "What players hear from me & hear from our staff, semantic responsibility is important. What comes out of my mouth & how I say it, it matters. Our focus is on the process. We all know what's at stake in terms of bowl eligibility. I mean, that almost goes without saying."
— Chris Solari (@chrissolari) November 21, 2022
On expectations around suspensions
Tucker on the suspended players and if he's expected to hear something by now: "I don't have any new information. The expectation for me is when I get more information, and then we can regroup. That's the only expectation I have. That's what it is."
— Chris Solari (@chrissolari) November 21, 2022
On the next step
Tucker: "It's not my first rodeo. We have to decide what is the next right step to take & what is gonna be helpful for the staff and for the team to move forward. It's standard over feeling & emotions." Says it starts with him. "If I can't move forward…then the team will not."
— Chris Solari (@chrissolari) November 21, 2022
Tucker on players who have option to return
Tucker adds: "Right now, we're trying to figure out who's gonna be back, and we need to do it fairly quickly. Some things can't be rushed, though."
— Chris Solari (@chrissolari) November 21, 2022
