Mel Tucker addresses decision to play Alante Brown after injury in Week 1 game

Mel Tucker faced some criticism for playing Alante Brown after he had been carted off the field with an apparent head injury earlier in Friday’s Week 1 win over Central Michigan.

Brown was carted off following the opening kickoff. He returned with 1:51 remaining in the first half for another kickoff. When the Spartans came back out of the locker room for the second half, Brown was on the sideline, no longer wearing pads.

Tucker was asked about what went into the decision on Brown in his Monday press conference.

“All those decisions are all medical,” Tucker told reporters. “If a guy plays, if he doesn’t play, if he practices, if he doesn’t practice, it’s all medical. I don’t have anything to do with those.”

Tucker did not have any details on Brown’s status for Week 2. MSU hosts Richmond, an FCS program, on Saturday. The game is set for a 3:30 p.m. kickoff, airing on the Big Ten Network.

Mel Tucker was pleased with several positives in MSU’s season-opener, but said the theme in a new week of prep is improvement.

He also provided comment on the decision of allowing Alante Brown back into the game, after what looked like a serious injury. pic.twitter.com/rGXHsOrP0L

— Jeanna Trotman (@JeannaTrotmanTV) September 4, 2023

Andrew Olson

A former Florida beat reporter, Andrew writes for the Saturday Tradition News Desk.