Michigan State Football: Mel Tucker’s policy on former players is perfect

Former Michigan State football players have been welcomed back to the program with open arms by new head coach Mel Tucker.

A lot has changed around the Michigan State football program from the coaching staff to behind the scenes personnel and even the outlook for the future.

Mel Tucker has done a good job of making sure the program reflects his mentality but there’s one area that stands out above the rest at the moment. Despite taking over just a couple of months ago, Tucker and his staff are making former players feel like a priority.

In fact, there’s been talk that they’re being asked to come to the staff if there are recruits they feel are must-gets and also Tucker has an open-door policy for anyone who donned the green and white in the past — not just guys that he has coached.

In what seems like a conversation Tucker had with some former players on the phone, he said that anyone who played for Michigan State is welcomed back “home” with open arms.

This is refreshing to hear and this is what will draw more recruits to East Lansing, knowing that there will always be a connection back to the school they attended and won’t be forgotten once they leave the program.

Tucker goes as far as to say, if any player wants to come to practice, they can come to whichever one they’d like and they can even hold the whistle. He calls any former players “my guys” and while Mark Dantonio also had a strong connection with former players, this seems to be as open a door as any coach has for past student-athletes in the country.

Refreshing, perfect, awesome. Tucker is building Michigan State’s brand one brick at a time and he’s making sure that foundation is strong.