OT: MSU Really Likes Mel Tucker

[NUCat320]

How much? 10 years, $95 million much.

Michigan State working on historic 10-year, $95 million contract extension for Mel Tucker

Michigan State is working on a history contract extension for Mel Tucker. Mat Ishbia and Steve St. Andre will donate the money for the raise.

www.freep.com

 

[Alvious]

If I'm Ryan Day I demand a raise yesterday.

 

[Katatonic]

We've seen these mega contracts based on 1 season backfire (i.e. - LSU with Oregeron).

 

[ricko654321]

We've seen these mega contracts based on 1 season backfire (i.e. - LSU with Oregeron).

Yeah. Not even 1 complete season. Orgeron was the first thing I thought of when I saw this one too. When he lost Joe Burrow and Joe Brady then team quickly went downhill (among some other things going on, but that contributed). One might look at MSU with Kenneth Walker right now and wonder if they've sort of caught lightning in a bottle. They are no doubt a good team this year, but have probably slightly outperformed their expected wins, and also it's based on literally less than 1 full season right now! They haven't even played OSU or in the postseason yet. He was good at Colorado most recently but if you look further back it's not like he's consistently been a great coach historically.

I'd put 90% chance that either (a) this contract turns out to be a massive mistake (ie overpay), or (b) if he continues to be a great coach, then he doesn't finish the contract anyways because some crazy SEC team pays him even more. Which leaves a 10% chance that it's a good deal? Not great odds. At this price point, I think A is more likely than B.

 

[NUCat320]

Michigan State has found its T Boone Pickens, and he’s 41 years old. It sounds like this was primarily orchestrated by Mat Ishbia, who was a walk-on on the MSU national championship basketball team and is CEO of United Wholesale Mortgage, which his father founded and which he took public at the start of this year.

Having just moved to Michigan, I can report that UWM is everywhere, advertising both services and employment.

Mat Ishbia

#228 Mat Ishbia on the 2024 Billionaires - Mat Ishbia is chairman and CEO of Michigan-based mortgage lender United Wholesale Mortgage, now UWM Holdings,

www.forbes.com

There’s no way Tucker (any coach?) is worth that much, but LSU was paying Orgeron the same and he was apparently their top guy.

 

[phatcat]

Michigan State has found its T Boone Pickens, and he’s 41 years old. It sounds like this was primarily orchestrated by Mat Ishbia, who was a walk-on on the MSU national championship basketball team and is CEO of United Wholesale Mortgage, which his father founded and which he took public at the start of this year.

Having just moved to Michigan, I can report that UWM is everywhere, advertising both services and employment.

Mat Ishbia

#228 Mat Ishbia on the 2024 Billionaires - Mat Ishbia is chairman and CEO of Michigan-based mortgage lender United Wholesale Mortgage, now UWM Holdings,

www.forbes.com

There’s no way Tucker (any coach?) is worth that much, but LSU was paying Orgeron the same and he was apparently their top guy.

I would like Orgeron to go to Oregon just for the misspellings. Also he also has his acting career, you may have seen him as the assistant coach in Waterboy

 

[Rodenthater]

How many transfers did he bring in--70ish? Maybe they should rename that institution to Transfer St.

 

[GOUNUII]

Yeah. Not even 1 complete season. Orgeron was the first thing I thought of when I saw this one too. When he lost Joe Burrow and Joe Brady then team quickly went downhill (among some other things going on, but that contributed). One might look at MSU with Kenneth Walker right now and wonder if they've sort of caught lightning in a bottle. They are no doubt a good team this year, but have probably slightly outperformed their expected wins, and also it's based on literally less than 1 full season right now! They haven't even played OSU or in the postseason yet. He was good at Colorado most recently but if you look further back it's not like he's consistently been a great coach historically.

I'd put 90% chance that either (a) this contract turns out to be a massive mistake (ie overpay), or (b) if he continues to be a great coach, then he doesn't finish the contract anyways because some crazy SEC team pays him even more. Which leaves a 10% chance that it's a good deal? Not great odds. At this price point, I think A is more likely than B.

I don't care who is coaching MSU, let alone a one year wonder who may or may not prove to be the real deal. Nobody is going to elevate that program above all of PSU, UM and OSU. Maybe they catch lightening in a bottle - with all the stars aligned - to win an East Division once every 10-15 years. But they are never going to sustain that level of achievement with those programs in their Division.

So what have you bought for 90+ million and a 10 year contract commitment? Other than the distinction of having dramatically upped the ante for head coaches at top 20-35 programs...with the inevitable trickle up for coaches that have far better resumes than Mr. Tucker. Is the LSU job now bidding at 125 million for 10 years? Do they make that offer to Saban, only to have Bama go to 10 years and 150 million?

GOUNUII

GOUNUII

 

[phatcat]

I don't care who is coaching MSU, let alone a one year wonder who may or may not prove to be the real deal. Nobody is going to elevate that program above all of PSU, UM and OSU. Maybe they catch lightening in a bottle - with all the stars aligned - to win an East Division once every 10-15 years. But they are never going to sustain that level of achievement with those programs in their Division.

So what have you bought for 90+ million and a 10 year contract commitment? Other than the distinction of having dramatically upped the ante for head coaches at top 20-35 programs...with the inevitable trickle up for coaches that have far better resumes than Mr. Tucker. Is the LSU job now bidding at 125 million for 10 years? Do they make that offer to Saban, only to have Bama go to 10 years and 150 million?

GOUNUII

GOUNUII

I agree with only part of this. OSU and the other elites, sure. but PSU and UM haven't done much. As a Michigan hater, I sort of keep an eye on MSU - the enemy of my enemy is my friend. Dantonio really elevated the program until he let it spiral out of control. he was averaging 9 wins a year and beating UM regularly. Now Tucker has beaten Hairball 2 in a row. They are 10-4 in the last 14 games v Mich. Mich may still have this Texas/USC type aura, but just as aTm is a better program than Texas right now, MSU is just better, despite the Michigan bias in the media and in the CFP committee.

Similarly, MSU and PSU have split the all-time series, and are 5-5 in the last 10 games. Tucker has not proven to be at Saban or even Ryan Day level, yet; however, MSU may simply be determined and satisfied to retain their status as top dog in the state of Michigan, and regain their position as de facto OSU challenger in the B1G.

So long as MichiGag and Ped State wring their hands about their coaches and allow them to keep losing to rivals and other top programs, Tucker could easily have MSU as #2 in the B1G, consistently. Hairball and Flim Flam Franklin, for whatever reason, have hilariously bad records against rivals, top 25 teams, bowls, etc. Things may change for Mich if they beat OSU this year and finally win a bowl, but until then, they and Ped State are both basically living off their reputation and their uniforms' distinctive appearance.

 

[TheC]

I agree with only part of this. OSU and the other elites, sure. but PSU and UM haven't done much. As a Michigan hater, I sort of keep an eye on MSU - the enemy of my enemy is my friend. Dantonio really elevated the program until he let it spiral out of control. he was averaging 9 wins a year and beating UM regularly. Now Tucker has beaten Hairball 2 in a row. They are 10-4 in the last 14 games v Mich. Mich may still have this Texas/USC type aura, but just as aTm is a better program than Texas right now, MSU is just better, despite the Michigan bias in the media and in the CFP committee.

Similarly, MSU and PSU have split the all-time series, and are 5-5 in the last 10 games. Tucker has not proven to be at Saban or even Ryan Day level, yet; however, MSU may simply be determined and satisfied to retain their status as top dog in the state of Michigan, and regain their position as de facto OSU challenger in the B1G.

So long as MichiGag and Ped State wring their hands about their coaches and allow them to keep losing to rivals and other top programs, Tucker could easily have MSU as #2 in the B1G, consistently. Hairball and Flim Flam Franklin, for whatever reason, have hilariously bad records against rivals, top 25 teams, bowls, etc. Things may change for Mich if they beat OSU this year and finally win a bowl, but until then, they and Ped State are both basically living off their reputation and their uniforms' distinctive appearance.

Totally agree with this!

 

[Purple Pile Driver]

I don't care who is coaching MSU, let alone a one year wonder who may or may not prove to be the real deal. Nobody is going to elevate that program above all of PSU, UM and OSU. Maybe they catch lightening in a bottle - with all the stars aligned - to win an East Division once every 10-15 years. But they are never going to sustain that level of achievement with those programs in their Division.

So what have you bought for 90+ million and a 10 year contract commitment? Other than the distinction of having dramatically upped the ante for head coaches at top 20-35 programs...with the inevitable trickle up for coaches that have far better resumes than Mr. Tucker. Is the LSU job now bidding at 125 million for 10 years? Do they make that offer to Saban, only to have Bama go to 10 years and 150 million?

GOUNUII

GOUNUII

Totally agree with all of this!

 

[Darren72]

I'd put 90% chance that either (a) this contract turns out to be a massive mistake (ie overpay), or (b) if he continues to be a great coach, then he doesn't finish the contract anyways because some crazy SEC team pays him even more. Which leaves a 10% chance that it's a good deal? Not great odds. At this price point, I think A is more likely than B.

Also remember that these contracts have out clauses. A buyout if he wants out and a buyout if MSU wants to fire him. I'm not denying that MSU is setting the market here - they are - but without knowing the buyout numbers, it's hard to fully evaluate the contract.

In any case, if Mel Tucker duplicates Mark Dantonio's success, I think MSU will be happy with this deal. This is a school that wasn't in the same league (figuratively) as Michigan and Ohio State.

 

[Sheffielder]

Just annoying that it fans the flames of outrageousness when it comes to coaching salaries. Sure there will be people who say, "I'm sure Alabama is happy to pay Nick Saban," but then you watch Texas pay guy after guy (after guy) and it not work out.

I realize I'm living in a fantasy world but what I'd really love is at the core of all CFB coaching contracts - if you offer a coach a five-year deal and he takes it - then both sides must stick it out for the full term of the contract, for better or worse until death or one side can vacate "for cause" (0-12 season = not cause).

 

[Purple Pile Driver]

Just annoying that it fans the flames of outrageousness when it comes to coaching salaries. Sure there will be people who say, "I'm sure Alabama is happy to pay Nick Saban," but then you watch Texas pay guy after guy (after guy) and it not work out.

I realize I'm living in a fantasy world but what I'd really love is at the core of all CFB coaching contracts - if you offer a coach a five-year deal and he takes it - then both sides must stick it out for the full term of the contract, for better or worse until death or one side can vacate "for cause" (0-12 season = not cause).

That doesn’t even happen in the business world. Employment contracts are broken all the time.

 

[phatcat]

Just annoying that it fans the flames of outrageousness when it comes to coaching salaries. Sure there will be people who say, "I'm sure Alabama is happy to pay Nick Saban," but then you watch Texas pay guy after guy (after guy) and it not work out.

I realize I'm living in a fantasy world but what I'd really love is at the core of all CFB coaching contracts - if you offer a coach a five-year deal and he takes it - then both sides must stick it out for the full term of the contract, for better or worse until death or one side can vacate "for cause" (0-12 season = not cause).

Washington State fired their guy for just cause. Just 'cause they were sick of him.

 

[Ryanfield124]

Here is my argument on behalf of Mel Tucker. 1. You hired me to put out this dumpster fire. I have cleaned house and put Ws back in our vocabulary. 2. Pat Fitzgerald makes more money than me. I am 2-0 against him. Pay me.