Prior to his arrival in East Lansing, it would have been unthinkable to believe that Mel Tucker would be able to rack up two consecutive wins over Michigan State’s chief rival from Ann Arbor. However, exactly what’s happened.
The Spartans earned a dramatic 37-33 victory today in East Lansing in front of an energized crowd, improving to a perfect 8-0 so far in 2021 and handing the Michigan Wolverines their first defeat. And for head coach Jim Harbaugh, it’s his fourth defeat at the hands of his in-state rival since his return to Ann Arbor in 2015.
Meanwhile, Mel Tucker has made history by becoming the first Spartans coach to Stuart his tenure with two wins against Michigan.
But the elated Spartans coach pointed the finger at his players for the success.
“It’s unbelievable. We’ve got great fans that were a factor in the game,” said Tucker. “I told you our guys weren’t gonna quit. They just kept taking body blows, body blows, body blows. We took them into the deep right there at the end and we got it done.”
“This means a lot but it’s not about me,” Tucker continued. “It’s about the Spartans. It’s about Spartan nation.”
Michigan led the game 30-14 midway through the third quarter. But the host Spartans earned 23 of the next 26 points, keeping the Paul Bunyan Trophy in East Lansing for another year.
“We have great fans and we got it done,” Tucker said. “That was a big win for us. It was a big win for the whole state of Michigan. It’s for our fans all across the country, all around the world. This was a big game and a big win. Proud of our guys.”
– – Quotes via 247Sports Link – –
