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What Mel Tucker said before non-conference finale vs. Western Kentucky
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Head coach Mel Tucker has Michigan State humming in year 2. The Spartans are 4-0 and rank No.17 in the AP Top-25 poll.
Tucker spoke to the media today ahead of their final non-conference matchup against Western Kentucky.
Tucker talked about sideline discipline.
Tucker says “sideline discipline” was addressed Monday extensively. “We talked about being disciplined….Why are we giving them yards?”
— Chris Solari (@chrissolari) September 28, 2021
I asked Tucker about the sideline penalty for the last question. “How much time do we have?” Points to it being third penalty on an MSU score. Lot more coming.
— Chris Solari (@chrissolari) September 28, 2021
Tucker said he told the ref “you made the right call, and we were wrong.” Points to that penalty on the return TD as specifically one of those instances of productive anger and things that are unacceptable.
— Chris Solari (@chrissolari) September 28, 2021
The Spartans head coach talked about never getting complacent in a season.
Tucker: “Easing up or being complacent or taking it easy? That’s a trait that doesn’t exist on our staff. We’re desperate to get better.”
— Chris Solari (@chrissolari) September 28, 2021
Tucker: “I can’t think of any reason, any rationale reason, why anyone in our organization … would be looking past a team or feeling unreasonably good about where we are.”
— Chris Solari (@chrissolari) September 28, 2021
Tucker talked about the atmosphere against Nebraska and how important it was for recruits to see that.
Tucker: “We had some big-time recruits at the (Nebraska) game, and the atmosphere was outstanding. It wasn’t just recruits for football. … It’s critically important that we get after it in there, for a lot of reasons.”
— Chris Solari (@chrissolari) September 28, 2021
Tucker talks about all 11 guys having to execute in every phase of the game.
Tucker gets the most animated he has today: “We have to get all 11 guys on the same page on a play to be successful. On all three phases.”
— Chris Solari (@chrissolari) September 28, 2021
Tucker had this to say about their upcoming opponent WKU.
Tucker on Western Kentucky: “They have good players, and I’m not just talking about 2 or 3 guys. They have a bunch of guys that can play, and they’re well-coached in all three phases.”
— Chris Solari (@chrissolari) September 28, 2021
Mel Tucker previewing Western Kentucky:
“They can play with anyone and they can beat anyone. They have that type of talent. …We’re gonna have to be at our best. We have to get better this week. The opponents change, but the standards do not change.”
— Colton Pouncy (@colton_pouncy) September 28, 2021
Tucker talks about the team always being a work in progress.
Tucker says there hasn’t been a game where the team was been giddy about its performance.
“We’re a work in progress. We are now, we always have been and we always will be.”
— Colton Pouncy (@colton_pouncy) September 28, 2021
Here’s the rest of what Tucker said during Tuesday’s press conference.
Mel Tucker says there was “a healthy dose of productive anger” after the game. Says there were some things from the Nebraska game that weren’t acceptable.
— Colton Pouncy (@colton_pouncy) September 28, 2021
Tucker says he thinks the atmosphere at Spartan Stadium led to a few of Nebraska’s mistakes
— Colton Pouncy (@colton_pouncy) September 28, 2021