Big Ten Football: 5 incredibly early bold predictions for the 2023 season
By John Buhler
2. Dan Gilbert, Mat Ishbia, Sparty boosters can’t buy out Mel Tucker fast enough
Whether it is Dan Gilbert, Mat Ishbia or whoever, the Michigan State Spartans boosters are going to be in a frenzy when it comes to how much they are paying Mel Tucker to not win football games. Personally, I would love nothing more than for Tucker to come back to Athens as a glorified defensive analyst to eventually replace Glenn Schumann, but I also want him to succeed at Sparty.
Unfortunately, Michigan State plays in the same geographical footprint as Michigan, Ohio State and Penn State. Although Indiana and Rutgers do nothing for me, keep in mind Maryland head coach Mike Locksley has been hashtag blessed with an Old Bay-infused Mayo bowl bath. It did wonders for Shane Beamer’s feisty Gamecocks. You don’t beat Clemson and Tennessee otherwise.
Will Michigan State achieve bowl eligibility? I mean, I hope so, but that’s not really the point here. Tucker won a New Year’s Six bowl two years ago. Michigan State wants to be on the shortlist of teams who can contend for titles year in and year out. For us to potentially have doubts about Sparty achieving bowl eligibility after a down season for their standard certainly speaks volumes.
We are probably getting another year beyond 2023 for Tucker if it goes bad, but buyouts beware!