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

1. He called MSU his “dream job”

When you hear coaches call their current schools their “dream job”, you have to take it with a grain of salt because he’s probably just saying what fans want to hear. And that might be the case with Mel Tucker, too, but when he said that phrase, it just felt a little different.

Just take a look at the quote:

Michigan State has been his dream job since 1997 and “this is not just another opportunity.” What this means to me is that Michigan State isn’t a stepping stone for him and it would take a massive offer or opportunity (the NFL?) to get him to leave.

I know what some of you are thinking: “Didn’t he say ‘no thanks’ to Michigan State when they originally offered?”

Short answer: yes. Long answer: Michigan State never “offered” Mel a job originally, the Spartans interviewed him. He was part of the process of gauging interest. Luke Fickell was the only coach to receive an actual offer and he turned it down after it looked like he was about to accept. The Spartans then threw a briefcase full of cash at Tucker and he couldn’t say no. Basically he was covering his bases with Colorado fans that were worried about him leaving after his interview.

Tucker was always interested, but he knew Fickell was the Spartans’ top option early on. When he said no, the Spartans went back to Tucker and he jumped at the offer.

So when he says that this was his “dream job”, he’s probably telling the truth, although a massive contract from LSU could change things. If Michigan State matches the offer (which it will), he will likely tell the Tigers that he’s where he wants to be.

Not only did Tucker call MSU his “dream job” but he also said he wants to bring a national title home to East Lansing.

I doubt he wants to uproot his family for the third time in four years, leaving what he called his “dream job” at a school where he actually met his wife.

This alone is a huge factor for Tucker.