Michigan State Football: Mel Tucker needs his “little brother” moment

The term “little brother” has been used to pick on Michigan State football for years. As crazy as it sounds, does Mel Tucker need a “little brother” moment?

Ah yes, “little brother”. The term that Michigan State fans hate to hear. It was 2007 when former University of Michigan running back Mike Hart first used that term to describe the Wolverines’ late game comeback against the Spartans that year.

I don’t think anyone predicted the ripple effect caused by those two words. Since 2007, Michigan State is 8-4 against Michigan. They had a four-year winning streak from 2008-2011 and a three-year winning streak from 2013-2015.

However, Michigan has won the last two meetings in pretty dominant fashion, winning by a combined score of 65-17. After the Spartans’ embarrassing 38-27 loss to Rutgers last week, the Wolverines could make it three straight wins in the rivalry on Saturday.

This will be the 113th meeting for the two schools, but the first for Michigan State head coach Mel Tucker. While Mel knows this rivalry is big for both teams, I don’t think he realizes how big it really is. Even former players from both squads have said they didn’t realize the magnitude of the game until they played in it.

With that being said, Tucker could be in for a rude awakening on Saturday. But is getting your doors blown off on national television the spark that him and the Spartans need to get this program turned around?

Now, don’t take this the wrong way. In no way am I vouching for a Michigan State loss, I always want my boys in green to win. But if they were to lose (and lose bad), it could be a blessing in disguise.

A blowout loss to Michigan after losing to Rutgers the previous week would be a signature “little brother” moment for Sparty, and the first for Tucker. It would leave a sour taste in his mouth for the rest of the season, showing him the magnitude of this in-state rivalry.

However, I could be completely wrong. MSU could get embarrassed and nothing could come of it besides Mel getting canned within five years. But with his loud and aggressive coaching style, I feel like a blowout loss could spark the fire within this team.

Once again, I’m not hoping for a Michigan State loss on Saturday. I’m just simply saying a “little brother” moment could be beneficial in the long-run.