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What Mel Tucker said ahead of Michigan State’s matchup vs. Youngstown State
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Mel Tucker spoke to the media today ahead of their home opener against Youngstown State on Saturday.
The Spartans are 1-0 after a big win on the road against the Northwestern Wildcats Friday night 38-21.
The Spartans might have something exceptional in RB Kenneth Walker III. On Friday night Walker III had 23 carries for 264 yards on 11.4 yards per carry and 4 touchdowns against the Wildcats.
Tucker talked about running the ball and protecting it being a priority for the Spartans. According to Chris Solari of the Detroit Free Press and beat writer for the Spartans
On offense, Tucker says being able to run and protect the ball were priorities. Says defense needs to generate takeaways.
— Chris Solari (@chrissolari) September 7, 2021
Tucker called Friday’s win a solid start. According to Solari.
Mel Tucker at the podium to preview MSU-Youngstown State. Calls Friday’s win “a solid start.”
— Chris Solari (@chrissolari) September 7, 2021
Tucker is a film junkie and has a quick-witted response when talking to the media about what he saw on film.
Asked about what he saw on the film, Tucker deadpans, “How much time do you got?” Goes on to add, “Defensively, we need to improve our tackling.” Says MSU missed 25 tackles, wants to get more four-man pressure. “But I thought the guys played hard, they knew what to do.”
— Chris Solari (@chrissolari) September 7, 2021
Michigan State host Youngstown state this Saturday at noon ET on BTN.
Here’s the rest of what Tucker said in his press conference:
Tucker also says MSU offense missed a few opportunities and didn’t see many momentum plays on special teams.
— Chris Solari (@chrissolari) September 7, 2021
“Behavior precedes success,” Tucker says.
— Chris Solari (@chrissolari) September 7, 2021
Tucker says his team is more “consciously competent” than last season.
— Nathan Stearns (@NathanStearns11) September 7, 2021
Tucker on the offense against Northwestern: “I wouldn’t say I was surprised that we took care of the ball… we did a ball security clinic in front of the team.” Says the coaches demonstrated the proper ways to hold the ball while running on offense and force fumbles.
— Nathan Stearns (@NathanStearns11) September 7, 2021
Tucker: “We are always going to be a work in progress… you are never there, as long as you are coaching and playing, it never stops.”
— Nathan Stearns (@NathanStearns11) September 7, 2021
Tucker mentions the team played over 25 players on defense and over 20 on offense against Northwestern.
— Nathan Stearns (@NathanStearns11) September 7, 2021
Tucker said the Northwestern win reinforces MSU’s philosophy and process. “You do these things, there’s a process to putting yourself in position to have success in a game — any game.”
— Stephen Brooks (@StephenM_Brooks) September 7, 2021
“Behavior precedes success,” Tucker says.
— Chris Solari (@chrissolari) September 7, 2021
Tucker: “Last season was a learning experience for us, positive and negative.” Says MSU took a lot from that into the offseason, from mistakes & successes. “But we’re a work in progress, and we’re always going to be. … You’re never *there* -that’s something you have to accept.”
— Chris Solari (@chrissolari) September 7, 2021
Mel Tucker tells @StephenM_Brooks that Jim Tressel (the Youngstown State president) was instrumental in shaping his mindset in being a “servant leader” within the university.
“He rarely raised his voice. He put so much into you as a coach, you didn’t want to let him down.”
— Graham Couch (@Graham_Couch) September 7, 2021
Tucker: “Coach (Jim) Tressel is a mentor for me… he is a very special person and taught me a lot about being a servant leader.” Tressel, the current president of Youngstown State, was Ohio State’s head coach from 2001-10 while Tucker was also there as a defensive backs coach.
— Nathan Stearns (@NathanStearns11) September 7, 2021