Michigan State Football: 3 things that could keep Mel Tucker in East Lansing

There has been plenty of debate recently with the rumors of LSU showing interest in second-year Michigan State football coach Mel Tucker.

Should he stay at Michigan State or bolt for LSU if a healthy offer is extended? Some say he should leave if LSU throws a bag at him while most are saying that he should remain in East Lansing because, well, he can win here.

There are going to be many factors in his inevitable decision, but there’s a lot keeping him at Michigan State.

What exactly will keep Tucker in East Lansing?

3. Familiarity with the Big Ten, recruiting landscape

I’ve heard the argument that Mel Tucker could go into Louisiana and absolutely dominate the recruiting landscape in a fertile territory because there are no other major competitors in the state, and that’s actually true. LSU usually dominates a loaded state of Louisiana, recruiting-wise, and Tucker would undoubtedly continue that.

But what people don’t realize is that he’s a national recruiter anyways, so he’s not going to stick to just one area. He’s already familiar with recruiting in SEC territory and he’s shown in just two years in East Lansing that he can land these recruits at Michigan State and still keep his Ohio, Michigan, California, and Texas options open.

Sure, he could still do that at LSU, but he’s much more familiar with the Big Ten because of his background and he was born in Ohio. He went to Wisconsin and played football there and his first grad assistant job was under Nick Saban at Michigan State. He also spent time at Ohio State. Long story short, he’s very familiar with the Big Ten and what it takes to recruit well here.

Tucker may have spent time as an assistant in the SEC, but he just screams Big Ten coach.