Michigan State football: 3 reasons Spartans may benefit from 2020 cancellation

1. New staff needs time to acclimate

Being hired after National Signing Day is already late in the offseason for a new coaching staff but Mark Dantonio’s decision to retire came at a weird time. Mel Tucker was forced into a sticky situation with a newly-inked recruiting class and little time to get to know his team, and new class, before spring ball.

Then COVID-19 hit and spring football was cancelled. He got to meet his players briefly, but not long enough before classes were cancelled and student-athletes were forced to head home.

Players have made their way back to campus for voluntary workouts and the team has mostly tested negative for COVID-19 so Tucker has gotten a chance to see his players up close and personal in recent weeks, but until they put on the pads, he will still be somewhat unfamiliar with what he has in front of him.

The only familiar faces on staff for most of these players are Mike Tressel and Ron Burton. Harlon Barnett, too, is a familiar face, but he’s been off the staff for a few years.

With a new staff in place, it only makes sense that a postponed season or cancellation would help them figure things out seeing as they’ve had no time to do so yet (and it’s already July).

While we all want football, a cancelled season wouldn’t be the worst thing (selfishly) for MSU.