Anthony Herron breaks down what Mel Tucker situation could do for Michigan State locker room

All eyes have been on Michigan State as the sexual harassment accusations made against Mel Tucker have come to light. While Tucker has been the center of attention, the players on the Spartans’ roster are still having to prepare for its next matchup as usual.

Big Ten Network analyst and former NFL defensive lineman Anthony Herron joined On3‘s Andy Staples to discuss what the vibes are within the Spartans’ locker room amid the ongoing Mel Tucker saga. Instead of predicting what the younger generation might think, he revealed a situation that happened to him during his tenure at Iowa.

“When I went through a coaching change in college — my first two years were with Hayden Frye and my last two were with Kirk Ferentz — when Hayden Frye announced his retirement, I can remember it like it was yesterday, it was just him standing there in the press conference with him talking, him getting choked up, myself and my teammates — I’m 19, 19 years old sitting there sobbing my eyes out because my coach is no longer going to be there.

“And we had months and months to get ready for it by next season. So to have the rug pulled out from under you in this way like the Michigan State players have … can they compartmentalize the situation they find themselves in?”

According to Herron, this year’s squad is the best team Michigan State has had since hiring Tucker in 2020. Outscoring their opponents — albeit against Central Michigan and Richmond — 76-21 through two games this season, the Spartans felt like they were on an upward trend before the news broke.

Now, Harlon Barnett steps into Tucker’s seat as the interim head coach as Michigan State wraps up preparation for Week 3’s home stand against No. 8 Washington. Mark Dantonio is expected to play an important role with the team as well, rejoining the program as an assistant coach with an undefined role.

Michigan State is the home team on Saturday, which gives them a better shot than they’d have otherwise — but can they shut out the external noise and play the same brand of football they did during the first two weeks of the season remains to be seen.

Kickoff between the Spartans and Huskies is set for 5 p.m. ET live on Peacock. Washington is a 17-point betting favorite heading into the matchup and boasts one of the most exciting, high-tempo offenses in the country led by Michael Penix Jr.