Mel Tucker didn’t get much time with his new team in the spring. They spent limited time together over the summer and are just starting to get acquainted on the field.

So even though Michigan State’s first game of the 2020 season against Rutgers looms, the Spartans are focusing on themselves right now. The transition to preparing for the Scarlet Knights for the Oct. 24 matchup is coming.

Tucker told reporters on Wednesday that there’s a “level of cross training” going on in East Lansing this fall in an attempt to build depth at defensive back, offensive line and wide receiver. The new head coach said that when “guys know multiple positions, you have better flexibility,” per Chris Solari of the Detroit Free Press.

While Michigan State is still hoping to see improvement from all three phases of the game on a daily basis, Tucker says that each day and every practice it becomes more and more real that football is returning this fall.

“It is becoming more real every day, which is a good thing,” Tucker said. “We’ve been waiting a long time for this opportunity.”

Michigan State finished the 2019 campaign with a 7-6 record.