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Family affair ‘not a distraction’ for Payton Thorne versus father in Week 1, says Mel Tucker

Ethan Stone

By Ethan Stone

Published:

Western Michigan offensive coordinator Jeff Thorne will be facing off against his son, Michigan State starting quarterback Payton Thorne on Friday.

And according to Spartans head coach Mel Tucker, the family affair will not be a problem for Thorne come kickoff.

“I don’t think he’s been in that situation before,” Tucker said about Thorne. “He says it’s not a distraction for him.”

This will be Jeff Thorne’s first season at Western Michigan and his first season coaching Division 1 collegiate football. He has spent the last 20 years at North Central College in Illinois.

Payton is one of the top returning arms in the B1G this season. Last season, the junior signal caller threw for 3,240 yards, 27 touchdowns and 10 interceptions. He has played in just 17 games for the Spartans and is only going to improve as the years pass.

Ethan Stone

Ethan Stone was an editor for his student newspaper at the University of Tennessee and is now a News Manager for Saturday Tradition.