The Valenti Show with Rico - A Make Or Break Year For Mel Tucker

[@basils5851]

Michigan State should not be in close games with Rutgers and Indiana period

[@johnnycage6681]

Why not?

[@basils5851]

@@johnnycage6681 The fact you have to ask that shows the program is on the decline.

[@LoydKline-uw4no]

Rutgers got east coast talent doesn't have to share Michigan another big ten state school

[@DB-xp9px]

Tuck comin' - let the play on words fiasco begin lol

[@tarnuemassaquoi]

This was a very honest assessment on Mel Tucker

[@spartaninvirginia]

For his contract and the amount of money his staff is earning, the floor should be 8 wins every year and a bowl win every other year.

[@jjcalvillo]

Still takes time to fill the cupboard and install your scheme. Dantonio had better OL to work with than Tucker/Kap starting off. That staff mailed it in the last 3 or 4 years, then Dantonio bails the day before signing day and MSU has to scramble for a replacement, then staff, then covid kills recruiting.

[@spartaninvirginia]

@@jjcalvillo Sure, This is now Tuck's fourth season. His cupboard should now be full of his guys.

[@mattnorcia5593]

Tuck comin!

[@vollste]

Well, I guess worrying about Midnight Mel Tugger from now on is off the table 😂😂🤣🤣

[@florida1289]

Manny Diaz gave up 418 yards to Michigan on the ground, alone...thats what Manny's defense brought. Saying Penn State's defense was the best in the B10, cmon.....they also got cooked by OSU. Michigan, Iowa, even OSU had a better D than Penn State.

[@fapple6240]

Penn State’s D had a decent game against OSU considering how good that offense was last year, OSU forced a ton of turnovers and scored some points on defense. Michigan completely annihilated PSU to the tune of close to 500 rushing (!!) yards

[@lawrencedockery9032]

Manny Diaz got Mack Brown fired at Texas because he let Taysom Hill go for like 500 all purpose yards in 2013

[@osulights4812]

⁠@@lawrencedockery9032He also gave up almost 600 yards rushing to UNC. Michael Carter and Javonte Williams both went over 250

[@keithzastrow]

Yep I agree. I will continue to support Tuck but that WILL change if we have another garbage season.

[@chosen2030]

I don't understand the Jay Johnson haters. How is he supposed to scheme around a walking wounded offensive line? But Coach Kap and Coach Gilmore get a pass? Scotty Hazelton's side of the ball needs to make big strides or he needs to go. Better question, if Mel is gone, what head coach will come to MSU without the Ishbia money?

[@laj382]

Jay Johnson should have had a passing offense last year with Coleman getting the ball way more; instead he tried to run the ball with the walking wounded offensive line. The dude is not a mental giant!

[@chosen2030]

@@laj382 you need pass blocking for a passing game to be effective. You also need play action to work and for that the run game needs to work, which requires run blocking. All coaches will tell you that it starts in the trenches. One thing I will fault him for is for sticking with Thorne instead of giving Kim more of an opportunity.

[@nathanbondy8249]

The coordinator discussion is really important here. Not firing one last year and getting yourself a quality coordinator will make it really difficult to hire on next year if things go south. No one of any worth will want to be an assistant to a HC in a make or break year. 5-7 is probably the target here with those coordinators and that brutal schedule. Prime example, Nebraska will beat MSU because they went out and grabbed a quality OC and DC to go along with Rhule.

[@noah.conley]

Noah Kim is a Mark Dantonio guy, he isn’t a Mel tucker guy Mike

[@meech9419]

Kim was only with Coach D for 1 year , he has more time with Tuck than Coach D. If you are with a coach for 3 yrs and not transferring, you are that coach's guy.

[@noah.conley]

@@meech9419 not necessarily I base guys on who recruited them

[@lancedegroot6282]

Kirk Cousins was a mistake?

[@dmalak4509]

That comment Mike said, made no sense.

[@lawrencedockery9032]

Lmao Mike at 13:10 calling Phil Longo one of the best offensive minds in football when Longo was the OC at Ole Miss with DK Metcalf and AJ Brown where they didn't run real plays, instead just calling "get open" to the players

[@sixdonuts]

9 wins or bust for me

[@LoydKline-uw4no]

With Peyton Thorne & Keon Coleman transfers 2023 9 wins a pipe dream for Michigan state

[@Irivesper]

With Tucker (a many, many-time DB specialist) and Harlon Barnett (architect of the No Fly Zone) we should have our DB game LOCKED DOWN, and its arguably our weakest link. If this staff can't get that right, what can they?

[@jjcalvillo]

No memory with the Spartan fan base at ALL. How many asshats were calling for Narduzzi’s head after his first three seasons and the very same situation? Dantonio, Barnett and a crappy secondary. Greatly amusing listening to the Nancies pissing themselves.

[@maxmayer6838]

With the budget msu has, I’m expecting top25 finishes yearly with consistent playoff runs every couple years especially as the playoff expands

[@Djmikeemike]

😂

[@ericstoppels9527]

Be realistic. 8-4 should be the floor. 9-3 often with 10-2 in there. Competing for big ten every 4-5 years

[@michaelbrothers3823]

That is fantasy land

[@jesskelley4726]

Tucker is getting paid as a top coach in the country Better be 8-4 or better

[@Kurt-ci1dk]

You are setting yourself up for disappointment.

[@jong3397]

Mel Tucker is very articulate, comes across as intelligent and composed, but his players have a bad attitude. Mel is always angry and yelling on the sidelines during games and with the way his players act I have to assume this is how he is during practices. What don't hear from Mel is him owning anything that happened the last few years. And how the hell is Mel earning $9.5 Million and Harbaugh is getting $10 Million? So confused.

[@lwazikabakamutulu5864]

I'm sorry but did Michigan NOT run PSU into the ground... UNDER Diaz's defense? Yall hilarious 😂

[@DB-xp9px]

guess u should rewatch last year's game 😎

[@lwazikabakamutulu5864]

@@DB-xp9px U must have totally misread my comment lol

[@DB-xp9px]

@@lwazikabakamutulu5864 must've - i saw "PSU" and figured u were referencing the UM/penn state game last year where psu's defence gave up a ton of yards on the ground

[@lwazikabakamutulu5864]

@DB-xp9px Yes. And I was responding cuz Valenti was making it seem like PSU's defense was so much better under Manny Diaz... but Michigan ran all over that same defense last season

[@TheGoblue22]

What? Both backs had over 120 rushing in that game my guy

[@klaekrodeman7074]

Both Tucker and Deano were assistants under Jim Tressel and they learned to be loyal to a fault. Long live the Senator, go Buckeyes!

[@jman3480]

I'm not a sparty fan, but i do like coach Tucker. I'm not trying to be disrespectful, but I just can't see the Spartans getting to 8 wins this year with Hazelton and Johnson as the coordinators. I do believe they get 1 more win last year and get to a bowl game this year, which would be progress and a step in the right direction. That being said, even if that's the case Tuck needs to part ways with both coordinators and start fresh. So just that move alone will buy Tucker at least 2 more seasons that I believe he deserves.

[@QuintTheSharker]

Tuck comin…in last

[@DavidWilliams-yd4nh]

The track record of Jay Johnson is the same track record for Mel Tucker. Walker got him paid. These 2 slappies will never admit that. He's done nothing everywhere he's been. This year will be 5-6 wins max.

[@bravefreedom8283]

Wolverine here. Michigan needs a strong MSU. Unfortunately MSU is in trouble this year. New QB, No great RB and questionable defense. Michigan brings back the QB and BOTH RB's this is a big deal. Tuck could go without another bowl game this year. Tuck might not be coming and he may be dumpin. GO BLUE

[@bunjidogg]

If QB play sucks, hard for Hazelton to look good.

[@tyrenny10]

Mel sounds good and does great in the portal but what does he do in the coaching aspect. Full disclosure, I am a U of M guy that was worried about Mel and now I am not

[@JB-nx6jb]

News flash Mike. Being a coordinator at MSU isn’t a good job either. So why would anyone go there to make a lateral move at best?

[@Jon.A.Scholt]

No kidding, especially with a resurgent Michigan in state. It's no coincidence MSU's greatest era of football in the modern era also occured during Michigan's worst. And now the Big Ten is loading up on good Pac 12 schools! Tell me, where does MSU rank on a list of Michigan, Ohio State, Penn State, USC, Oregon and Washington? I didn't even mention Wisconsin, Iowa and what should be a better Nebraska. With his mediocre recruiting the last few years (sorry, a top 25 class is not a good year for a supposed great recruiter) and the so far terrible '24 class, there is an almost 0.00% chance MSU even sniffs the Big Ten title game in the next 5 years. MSU fans may want to brace for a bunch of middle of the road Big Ten finishes under Tucker; as in 7-5 and 6th or 7th in the Big Ten at best. No proven, quality coordinator is jumping on that train unless they're given a Tucker equivalent contract for a OC or DC. And you're probably not getting a great up and comer with other jobs out there without the challenges.

[@noah.conley]

Nathan Carter name to watch if he can be 65% of what K9 did we have a big season!!!

[@nick-cox]

Said the same thing avout Jalen Berger last year.

[@noah.conley]

@@nick-cox Carter is a lot better than Berger! Carter also flashed something against U of M at UConn

[@nick-cox]

@@noah.conley what about 6 carries for 21 yards that game is flashy 😂

[@noah.conley]

@@nick-cox behind a mediocre oline and he got hurt! He was going to have a big game but got hurt early on

[@stevekov6740]

My eye is on him. 65% of K9 gets you to 8-4 I think.

[@troythibodeaux1246]

He flops again at under 500. He's has to be gone. Only thing then saves him is beating scum if it's under 500

[@dcrispix]

Under .500 with a win against UofM is the definition of Little Brother.

[@ericaallispn7284]

The way msu gave up.that game to Indiana when they had a lead to me showed that this team is from top to bottom in it's coaching horrible . Yeah Tucker he's got to to win 8 or better bottom line .

[@spartaninvirginia]

8 plus a bowl win.

[@spartandogs3126]

I agree with you that Indiana game pissed me off bad. Just keep in mind no one is talking about this and I don’t know why. we left so many points off the board last year because we had the worst Field goal kicker in college football thank God that kid is gone. We were able to pick up a very good kicker from North Carolina. I’m hearing great things about him coming out of camp. last year showed me the importance of having a good field goal kicker.

[@thepourchos2848]

You can tell Rico is very uncomfortable about the negative talk about state

[@slyde734]

That was pretty obvious. It is the one area where I give Valenti some credit. He avoid getting too involved in the program and so he has perspective. Rico is more or less on the MSU payroll, so he won't say a word....I have the same issue with Doug and Jansen even though I'm a Michigan guy.

[@AmericanMetalhead100]

Its wierd how Nebraska of all teams has figured getting good coordinators out, but MSU hasn't. Rhule just got there and one of his first moves was getting Marcus Sautterfield. The guy who did to Spencer Rattler at South Carolina what Lincoln Riley couldn't at Oklahoma. Gamecocks were putting up 30+ points a game in the last half of the season. This is what did Dantonio in. Sticking by shitty coordinators.

[@larrylee405]

You say that like Nebraska is the lesser program compared to MSU 😂. Nebraska is a bigger football brand

[@Oziot]

@@larrylee405They are, yes, but they have been less than stellar in recent years. I think the point that he was trying to make is, as down as Nebraska’s been lately, it didn’t take them long to (presumably) right the ship and bring in an upgrade at HC in Matt Rhule and hire quality assistants, whereas Coach Tucker’s going into his fourth season and, as many fans have said, has stood by a lackluster DC & OC.

[@marvinkey7440]

This era feels like John L. Smith all over again.

[@tophermczizzle1017]

John l could never win 10 games

[@justinlalko7834]

@@tophermczizzle1017let’s be real walker won 10 games 😂

[@LoydKline-uw4no]

Mel tucker is a great college 🏈 coach; tunnels stuff really hurt Mel tucker & tunnels stuff Peyton Thorne & Keon Coleman transfers ; ; made Mel tucker fell off a college football cliff Rich Rodriguez did something simular he still coaching; mel tucker alot better coach

[@dumbguy6843]

Msu is nothing special. Never have been, never will be.🎉

[@no_iris9868]

User name checks out!

[@dumbguy6843]

@@no_iris9868 good one. Must be that Msu education.

[@soarinskies1105]

Right so mark Dantonio and his big ten championships and his record against top 10 teams never happened

[@spartandogs3126]

What are you talking about Michigan can’t win the bowl game if their life depended on it. They’ve only been relevant for the last two years calm down🤡

[@travissmith9488]

Look at Rico crying during this segment. Boy, Sparty has fallen.

[@lloydcady7231]

Tucker has already make he probably has hefty buyout should set for life if he doesn’t go crazy

[@GeeMoney-tf2fu]

Spartans had 2 solid qbs come thru the program with a nice defense. They had a 8 year run. Historically, this is a bad football program. I don’t understand why everyone is so bent out of shape or superior. This is who MSU is

[@spartandogs3126]

You could say the same thing about Michigan they were trash for a decade and even know they’re much better now they still can’t win a bowl game if their life depended on it.

[@ericaallispn7284]

Vegas has msu at 4.5 wins their usually accurate ah Tuckers gone gone gone

[@Gr33n247]

We won 11 when projected 4 literally 2 years ago 😂

[@DB-xp9px]

@@Gr33n247 u're cherry-picking a single year. that doesn't happen very often

[@ericaallispn7284]

@@Gr33n247 lot of wins were real close when you lost that game to Purdue after beating Michigan it dug their grave that season involved a 56 to zero destruction by Ohio state no way they were a high quality 11win team for last 2 seasons practically the worst passing defense in big ten and near the bottom in the country only person who kept your eleven game won season was Kenneth Walker that revealed itself last year.

[@spartandogs3126]

They weren’t too accurate in 2021.

[@trevorthompson330]

Its Harlon Barnett, not Hazelton

[@HokageFlete]

Big10 champs

[@JohnSmith-vy7ck]

So they paid him a 100 million to poach him from Colorado even though he hasn’t won a conference title or coached for one. Who see they going to get that’s better. Oregon & USC are better programs with more success and resources.

[@IssaFram]

I think it didn't work out

[@Kurt-ci1dk]

Million $ Mel sold a bill of goods to the MSU admin...it's going to be ugly this coming season, especially on 10/21.

[@spartandogs3126]

In Mel’s three years he has already won as many bowl games as Buddy Holly Harbaugh has in his eight years lol…😂🤣👏🏻

[@ckc-li1kh]

@@spartandogs3126you’re obsessed with Michigans bowl games dude, try worrying about beating Indiana this year and having a winning record

[@Eaaatlife]

Lol love it! Go blue!

[@ronaldmiller1949]

Dantonio 2.0 without the wins. Kept every horrible assistant. Does this guy care about wins, or he is cruising because of the contract?

[@jjcalvillo]

Mike tries so hard NOT to be a Spartan fan, he makes mountains out of nothing. Way overstates how bad last year was, comparing it to Williams when Dantonio crapped out a 3 - 9 season after being at the school for YEARS.

[@perfectsense3240]

Last year the team was terrible. Valenti has high hopes for the MSU program that most of their fans and alumni do not have.

[@grumpypoof9648]

3-9 the year directly after a playoff appearance with the best recruiting class he ever had. You just never know what can happen.

[@jjcalvillo]

@@perfectsense3240 Total B.S.

[@W.A.1818]

I think Mike knows Tucker is not a very good coach - he just doesn’t want to say it out loud. But he WILL.

[@grumpypoof9648]

@samgottlieb9524 I'm a die hard MSU fan and this season will be the most clear. From what I saw last year from not only Tucker but his entire damn staff was unacceptable. It really did just look that he's just not a very good coach. I obviously hope he can prove us all wrong but I'm leaning like 90% that he will lose alot of games chopping on the sidelines like an idiot while his kicker misses a 15 yard FG and opponents convert on 3rd and 25 all game.

[@Mrsandman98120]

It’s going to be another terrible season I have no faith especially after what I saw from that defense last year

[@SamuelMiller-qf7qi]

Jake spavital? Eh

[@mikeplumer7687]

How is Maryland a team you should beat? 5th yr QB made you look like Bethune Cookman last year

[@ericaallispn7284]

I predict tuckers a goner bye bye

[@jaybling3189]

Sorry but that’s what Mel gets for abandoning CU.

[@UMfan21]

I feel like MSU's position is somewhat similar to where UofM was after the disastrous 2020 season: Highly paid Head Coach who had a good year or two and then really stunk it up on the field. UofM gave Harbaugh that pay cut. He fired Don Brown. Changes were made and Harbaugh bounced back after. MSU can't cut Tucker's pay since it's guaranteed (mistake #1), but they can't afford to do NOTHING. Mike is right on this. Tucker is doubling down on his assistants this year and it better pay off for his sake. Another year or two like last year and recruiting will shrivel up and Tucker is basically just a dead coach walking. His contract just an albatross over MSU's AD. Never guarantee money. Never.

[@slyde734]

The big difference is that Michigan had a five star QB and a five star RB and lots of talent. Sparty lost their starting QB and their best skill player. They are thin across the board and recruiting has been underwhelming. Even if you get the QB right as the Sparty Afternoon radio hour suggests, they aren't a good team and they are subject to getting players poached by better programs.

[@UMfan21]

@@slyde734 For sure Michigan was in a better position. Situations are not identical, but somewhat similar. If MSU had made a coordinator change (or two) that likely could have helped them on the recruiting trail and they wouldn't be in this stagnant/downward trend. To have a year like last year and do NOTHING has got to be frustrating.

[@SamuelMiller-qf7qi]

Phil longo one of the best offensive minds in football? These guys make some dumb comments

[@SR-hf3hx]

Tucker = milk dud