How Mel Tucker plans to organize Michigan State football's 2023 spring game
EAST LANSING — On a sunny, warm Monday, Mel Tucker started with the good news: the weather forecast.
Balmy temperatures reaching near 80 degrees will greet fans Saturday at Spartan Stadium, when Michigan State football takes the field for the final time this spring and the first public viewing of 2023.
“We encourage everyone to come on out and check out our deal,” Tucker said.
But it once again won’t be a traditional spring game. Instead, it will be the Spartans’ final of 15 practices, though the fourth-year coach promised it will be up-tempo and organized — with some “good-on-good” 11-on-11 work.
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“We're gonna have more of a practice-type format with some scrimmaging as opposed to a game. That's worked for us in the past,” Tucker said. “Just with our numbers, it's gonna actually be more competitive for us and we can get a lot more out of it as opposed to trying to split the team up and create some type of game.”
Gates open for what’s being dubbed “Spartan Football Kickoff” at 12:30 p.m., with fans allowed on the field to take pictures until team activities begin at 2 p.m. Admission and parking are free.
It marks the third year in a row — MSU did not hold practices during Tucker’s first spring in 2020 — Tucker will eschew a game in favor of an open practice. In 2021, the Spartans lacked depth in the defensive backfield as they awaited a number of transfers. Last spring, their offensive line had just five healthy scholarship bodies.
Tucker said concerns with the defensive line caused him to put the brakes on a game format, and said a split-squad game isn't fun for coaches to evaluate players.
“It might be a little more fun for the fans to see guys going up and down the field," he said. "But for us, we need to see guys competing and straining really hard to win their one-on-ones on each play.
“That practice format, with scrimmaging, is good when you're really trying to evaluate. We only get 15 of them, so we don't plan on wasting a day. We want to get something done on Saturday.”
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Tucker is hoping to see how players react and compete, with fans in the stands as opposed to the closed scrimmages they’ve held at Spartan Stadium, the second of which was Saturday.
“And really the buy-in to the team," he said. "Are they selfish? Do they celebrate together or are they trying to draw attention to themselves? Are they helping each other out? Are they communicating? Obviously, the organization of the practice, the tempo. Just the intensity with which everyone moves around is important."
QB competition
The limited format means fans won't see a complete picture of MSU’s quarterback competition, as spring practices close.
Tucker said his staff’s evaluation of Payton Thorne, Noah Kim and Katin Houser will continue throughout the summer and into preseason camp in August.
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“But all the guys are competing at a high level, and I think they're all developing and I think they're all getting better," he said.
Staff changes
Tucker confirmed MSU is in the process of replacing two key off-field staff positions.
Saeed Khalif, who had been Tucker's general manager/executive director of player personnel and recruiting since 2022, left the program less two years after joining MSU from Wisconsin in June 2021.
And former Detroit Cass Tech coach Thomas Wilcher departed the role of MSU's director of community and high school relations he occupied since July 2021.
“The people that we hire in those positions are going to be huge hires for us,” Tucker said.
Contact Chris Solari: csolari@freepress.com. Follow him on Twitter @chrissolari.
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Next up: Spring game
What: MSU spring game.
Kickoff: 2 p.m. Saturday; Spartan Stadium, East Lansing.
TV: Big Ten Network (tape delayed telecast at 4 p.m.).
This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: How Mel Tucker will run Michigan State football's spring game
