Report: Colorado denied Tucker chance to bid team farewell
Colorado didn't allow Mel Tucker to address his players after accepting a deal to become the head coach at Michigan State, sources told ESPN's Adam Rittenberg.
Buffaloes athletic director Rick George told reporters Wednesday that Tucker didn't speak to the team before departing for East Lansing. George didn't expand, but he expressed disappointment with how Tucker left.
"We had a conversation on Saturday about his commitment to Colorado and I was comfortable with that, and what transpired in the last 24 hours, it's disappointing," he said at a press conference.
Tucker had previously tweeted he wasn't going to take the Michigan State job, which opened on Feb. 4 when longtime head coach Mark Dantonio announced his sudden retirement.
While I am flattered to be considered for the HC job @MSU_football, I am committed to @CUBuffsFootball for #TheBuild of our program, its great athletes, coaches & supporters. #UnfinishedBusiness #GoBuffs
— Mel Tucker (@Coach_mtucker) February 8, 2020
We are #Relentless #Culture #TheBuild
Tucker spent one season with the Buffaloes, steering them to a 5-7 mark. He'll take over a Spartans team coming off back-to-back 7-6 campaigns.