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New B1G rivalry? Greg Schiano responds to Mel Tucker using ‘Keep chopping’ mantra
By Nick Schultz
Published:
Rutgers and Michigan State face each other this weekend, but the back-and-forth has already started.
After the Spartans’ win over Western Kentucky last week, Michigan State coach Mel Tucker told his team to “keep chopping.” That sure sounds familiar, doesn’t it?
That’s because Rutgers has used “keep chopping” as a mantra since 2006, when the Scarlet Knights went 11-2 and shut out Kansas State in the Texas Bowl, 37-0. Greg Schiano was the coach that season and he shared his thoughts on Tucker’s usage of the saying.
Greg Schiano addresses Mel Tucker and Michigan State using Rutgers' longtime "keep chopping" mantra:
"We've been doing 'keep chopping' since 2005 … that's become much more than a word in this program."https://t.co/2y67f7e6gK pic.twitter.com/Lc2oKFXKdv
— 247Sports (@247Sports) October 4, 2021
Well, this should add an interesting ripple to Saturday’s game.
It should be an interesting game, though. Rutgers has a solid run defense and it’ll have to stop Michigan State standout Kenneth Walker III — the top rusher in the B1G. With all this talk about “keep chopping,” could we be looking at a new B1G rivalry?
Nick Schultz is a columnist and breaking news writer for Saturday Tradition. A 2020 graduate of Loyola Chicago, he covered the Ramblers' 2018 Final Four run from beginning to end and has worked at NBC Sports Chicago. Follow Nick on Twitter @NickSchultz_7.