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Michigan State Football: 3 reasons Mel Tucker won’t leave for LSU job

By Connor Muldowney

Sep 11, 2021; East Lansing, Michigan, USA; Michigan State Spartans head coach Mel Tucker during the second quarter against the Youngstown State Penguins at Spartan Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Tim Fuller-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 11, 2021; East Lansing, Michigan, USA; Michigan State Spartans head coach Mel Tucker during the second quarter against the Youngstown State Penguins at Spartan Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Tim Fuller-USA TODAY Sports /
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With Michigan State football enjoying some success early in the tenure of Mel Tucker and a job opening up at LSU, Spartan fans are collectively having a flashback. A little over 20 years ago, Nick Saban led Michigan State to a 10-win season and a Citrus Bowl berth only to leave the Spartans for the LSU job.

Right now, Michigan State fans are nervous wrecks, thinking lightning may strike twice.

Tucker’s name has been tied to the LSU job and while nothing concrete has come out yet, Spartan fans are beginning to wonder if he might just bolt after two years.

Here’s why I think Tucker will stay and there’s no need to worry about these rumors.

3. Michigan State is likely going to match whatever LSU may offer

One of the most common misconceptions in college football is that Michigan State can’t pony up and offer coaches like some of the top programs. That’s just not true. That’s a narrative that’s as old as Nick Saban and it goes back to when he left Michigan State for LSU.

The difference now? Michigan State has two of the wealthiest donors in the nation in Dan Gilbert and Matt Ishbia who are both essentially trying to out-donate each other.

Those two billionaires weren’t the men they are today back when Saban was swiped from Michigan State’s grasp by LSU. The athletic department, led by Allen Hallar (who happens to be the AD Tucker wanted), has the ability to ask for a nice donation from its billionaire donors to help keep Tucker in town if and when LSU throws a blank check at him.

Back when Saban was leaving Michigan State, the athletic department didn’t have that option. Now, the Spartans can and will match any offer the Tigers throw at him — within reason.

He could leave and start over somewhere else or continue to build what he’s started at Michigan State with the same paycheck.

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