Two weeks of declining performance sent Michigan State football spiraling into the midpoint of Mel Tucker’s debut season.
And it sent their first-year coach into a stern lecture to his new players: Follow his way or hit the highway.
“It's compete and show us what you can do and earn your spot, earn your playing time, earn your right to be able to even stay on the team,” Tucker said Tuesday. “Because this is not a recreational-type of situation. This is compete to play, compete to stay.”
Tucker used his weekly news conference as a pulpit to deliver that message to his current team, incoming Spartans and upcoming prospects.