“When I turn on the film, I’m going to be sick.”
Mel Tucker’s first season as Michigan State’s football coach wasn’t weird — it was impossible.
The quote from Tucker came after a 40-point home loss to Ohio State in December. The second-to-last chapter in a year that would not stop. Some eight months after Tucker’s tenure began — amid a pandemic, with one season cancellation, one reversal, almost zero practice time and no in-person recruiting — Michigan State opened its 2020 season against Rutgers and looked exactly how you’d expect. The team was a total disaster. Almost unrecognizable.
Michigan State’s pride showed up a week later. A 27-24 win at Michigan Stadium gave the Spartans a desperately needed feel-good moment and showed the roster what’s possible.
