MSU's Mel Tucker takes shot at Jim Harbaugh: Whining about refs 'makes your program soft'

EAST LANSING — Mel Tucker on Monday reserved judgement on referee calls he had questions about in Michigan State football’s first loss of the season Saturday at Purdue.

He didn’t hold back about his feelings about those who lodge their complaints publicly. And it was clear to whom he was referring.

“I don't like to talk about bad calls,” Tucker said during his weekly news conference. “That's not part of our culture. We don't like to make excuses about anything. I think that makes your program soft. I think it gives your coaches and your players a way out, so I don’t even like to talk about it that much.

“But we do turn them in, because we need clarification. And if I disagree with something,…