What Mel Tucker said before B1G home opener vs. Nebraska

Michigan State is 3-0 and in the AP Top 25 — and Mel Tucker is loving every bit of it.

Tucker’s Spartans are getting ready to return to East Lansing for a matchup with Nebraska, their first B1G matchup at home this season. Michigan State cruised past Miami 38-17 in Week 3 and QB Payton Thorne was named B1G Co-Offensive Player of the Week for his performance.

This week’s game against Nebraska is a “Stripe Out” and Tucker wants a full house on hand — mostly Spartans fans, of course — for the primetime matchup. He sure was quotable in his weekly press conference Tuesday afternoon.

Read for yourself:

Tucker said he wants to create one of the most difficult home atmospheres in the country. "People should not want to come to Spartan Stadium and play in the woodshed. It should be a factor."

— Stephen Brooks (@StephenM_Brooks) September 21, 2021

Tucker: "Our fans and our students, I'm gonna ask them to empty their buckets and leave it all in the woodshed Saturday night."

— Stephen Brooks (@StephenM_Brooks) September 21, 2021

Tucker said the most important thing is what MSU does next. Asked his players "How does 3-9 sound?" and got the response he wanted.

— Stephen Brooks (@StephenM_Brooks) September 21, 2021

Tucker: "You guys are asking me some tough questions today. Tuck comin? I don't know what that means. Swagger? I don't know what that means."

— Stephen Brooks (@StephenM_Brooks) September 21, 2021

Tucker on the saying ‘Tuck comin’ — “I like it. I think it’s good. I’m not sure what it means. I mean what does it mean? I know we’ve got the games scheduled and God willing I’ll be there.”

— Matt Charboneau (@mattcharboneau) September 21, 2021

He actually mentioned Nebraska's tendency to invade opposing stadiums minutes into his post-Miami press conference Saturday. https://t.co/efPXDz3YeA

— Stephen Brooks (@StephenM_Brooks) September 21, 2021

Tucker: "We're not into stats. Stats are for losers."

… I think that's an old Narduzzi classic, right?

— Stephen Brooks (@StephenM_Brooks) September 21, 2021

Tucker says MSU played faster in the fourth quarter vs. Miami than the first, according to their GPS numbers.

— Stephen Brooks (@StephenM_Brooks) September 21, 2021

Tucker asked about the “deep water” phrase. Basically likening to playing and excelling when it’s not comfortable. “You have to be comfortable being uncomfortable.”

— Matt Charboneau (@mattcharboneau) September 21, 2021

Tucker: “We don’t talk about swagger. We’re more of a meat and potatoes outfit.”

— Matt Charboneau (@mattcharboneau) September 21, 2021

Mel Tucker fired up about playing at home on Saturday: “People should not want to come to Spartan Stadium and play in the woodshed.”

— Matt Charboneau (@mattcharboneau) September 21, 2021