Harlon Barnett Post-Game Interview
As much as I enjoy shaudenfreude, I have to admit it's starting to feel a little bit cruel with Michigan State. Yes the Hitler thing is hilarious, and I'll never stop finding the term "Mel Tugger" hilarious and they probably deserve everything coming their way from years of on field and off field violence, but there is something so inept and pathetic about them now. As an interesting counterpoint, the post-game interview with Harlon Barnett was fascinating to me. Some points from it:
- He openly admits he's in a difficult position
- He's just trying to hold the team together, but going forward is going to demand accountability on and off the field
- Signal stealing is common in the Big Ten, and the practice of having the QB run to the sidelines is something they've done in the past to counteract it
- Doesn't expect much to come from the signal stealing investigation and he never thought the threat to not play the game was serious
If Michigan State is willing to hire a coach like that going forward, it could really change their program and take the poison out of the rivalry. Of course hard to be optimistic about that happening:
Harlon Barnett talks 49-0 loss to Michigan | Michigan State football - YouTube
October 23rd, 2023 at 11:01 AM ^
No. True Michigan and OSU fans respect each other, because the programs are so alike and intertwined.... and don't want the other to lose except the Game... at least that's how has been before say RR.
October 22nd, 2023 at 8:58 PM ^
If he suspended Brown for the back of the helmet hit to McGregor, then I'd be a little more convinced he wants to do things the right way. Make a statement that the BS that's been going on forever there isn't going to be tolerated.
October 22nd, 2023 at 9:09 PM ^
He seems Hoke-like...a lot of clapping and talking about toughness. Not a head coach in the B1G.
If they're smart, they'll hire Lance Leipold...however, I think that job is toxic and they're going to struggle to hire someone.
So do they...
- A. Overpay for a Mel Tucker type?
- B. Hire a "hot name" at the coordinator level?
- C. Hire a retread big name that no one wants?
- D. Matt Campbell.
October 22nd, 2023 at 9:18 PM ^
C. Bo Pelini is available and would be spectacular.
October 22nd, 2023 at 10:37 PM ^
Fuck it. Les Miles.
At least make it fun.
October 23rd, 2023 at 9:36 AM ^
... and real!
October 22nd, 2023 at 9:29 PM ^
- E. Narduzzi. I don't know if he has a buyout. I'm thinking Pitt would happily let him walk without a fight.
October 22nd, 2023 at 10:16 PM ^
I don't care if he pays every alumni a few bucks to get the job, I don't want him coaching MSU.
October 22nd, 2023 at 9:32 PM ^
I think they'll end up hiring Chris Creighton from EMU.
October 22nd, 2023 at 9:43 PM ^
- F. Chris Creighton from EMU.
October 22nd, 2023 at 9:54 PM ^
I don't think there's a chance in hell he's leaving Utah (and not just because he is Mormon but also because he has legit built a great program there), but Kyle Whittingham would be the best hire Sparty or really any mid program could pull in rn.
Utah had success with Meyer, but Whittingham has turned them into a consistent program with a great culture built on toughness, work ethic and strong lines. Utah plays nasty but not dirty. They actually feel a bit like Michigan lite, kind of how Michigan felt like UGA lite as we were coming up a couple years ago. Whittingham is already 60, however, so they may only get 5-7 years out of him, but he would definitely be a home run hire to right the ship and build a solid foundation.
Again, I doubt a 60 year old Mormon living in Utah, who played at BYU, who has solidified the program, and been coaching at Utah in some capacity since the mid 1990s!!! is going anywhere; But that's the guy I'd try throwing $8mm - 4 year guaranteed contract at . He currently makes $4.7mm a year.
Everyone talks about Urban as the savior, but he'd need crazy NIL dollars to compete and Sparty is too mid tier regional for him. Whittingham has proven he can build more with less - his teams would be tough as nails but disciplined, not petty and dirty like Sparty.
October 22nd, 2023 at 10:21 PM ^
I wanted whittingham after the RR years but he was never leaving Utah unless he gets kicked out
October 22nd, 2023 at 10:39 PM ^
I'll never understand why someone would think a guy like Whittingham would go backwards.
October 23rd, 2023 at 4:56 AM ^
He seems like a good man. The interview after beating USC was total class.
very much cut from the same mold as JH. Play good D with an offense that’s complimentary and get the other team to tap out. If Kyle had the talent as the teams he plays, watch out.
October 23rd, 2023 at 7:43 AM ^
WTF are you talking about with the Leipold guy? They're getting Urbz. Ishbia is all over it. SD4L!
October 23rd, 2023 at 8:52 AM ^
C. Bobby Petrino
October 22nd, 2023 at 9:11 PM ^
It's difficult to see ALL of their fan base suffer, two sisters and their husbands went there and although I love beating them, I don't like how their program has become something they're ashamed of. I hope we keep winning against them, but hope they can change their culture for the better.
October 22nd, 2023 at 10:00 PM ^
They can change culture first, we can feel bad Winning once they do that.
October 22nd, 2023 at 9:23 PM ^
The man is Green & White at heart, former player from a Rose Bowl team, wants the best for his players and to keep the team together. That's admirable under these very stupid, avoidable circumstances that he had nothing to do with.
The loss at Iowa was stupid. The loss at Rutgers, also really dumb. The rivalry loss by 49 to Michigan at home w/ 100+ yards in penalties makes me think the team is on its last legs and giving up. Barnett's comments about player punctuality and effort in practice is damning.
Right now MSU is bad at football. They were already bad under Tucker aside from the Kenneth Walker III once in a lifetime talent windfall.
The question I have is are they good enough to beat @Minnesota, Nebraska and @Indiana to go 5-7? Who knows.
Ohio State and Penn State will keep the Spartans out of bowl contention for the 3rd time in last 4 years. SpartanS coach, team & fans already knew their bowl dreams likely died on the field in Piscataway.
October 22nd, 2023 at 9:36 PM ^
I don't think they quit in that game. They played hard all the way through. They were just wildly overmatched. Their offensive skill players just aren't power conference caliber players. The o-line and d-line are weak. Tucker didn't recruit for depth; he had one good take in the portal and that was it. They're suffering a big drop in talent from the Dantini years.
October 22nd, 2023 at 10:33 PM ^
They definitely have not quit in any game. For whatever else you want to say about them (and I thought your takes were quite accurate re: skill level), they give effort. Their football acumen is suspect, their ability is lacking, but they are trying. A lot of times Saturday I thought they were in the right position or scheme, but UM is just flat out better.
October 23rd, 2023 at 6:07 AM ^
I see maybe the Indiana game as the only win left on their schedule.
October 22nd, 2023 at 9:27 PM ^
Is it weird that I have grudging respect for the teams and programs we've played this year? Like, I respect what Schiano is doing, what Rhule is trying to do, and what Fleck has done. I respect UNLVs "go go" schtick.
The only school I haven't felt that way for was MSU. Because of last year, and because Dantonio did take control of the rivalry in recent memory, and because they were a bunch of jerks last night. But then I hear their coach and...dangit, he seems all right.
Im sure this is mostly because we don't see these teams or programs as a threat in the near future. That will change I'm sure. But right now I'm just like "good try! See you next year for more of the same! Take care."
October 22nd, 2023 at 9:29 PM ^
Feel sorry for the guy? He was making 500k a year and is going to make 2.5 million to be a sacrificial lamb for 2 and a half months. Who among us wouldn't trade him places?
October 22nd, 2023 at 9:39 PM ^
Money doesnt fix stressful situations as much as people like to think it does.
October 22nd, 2023 at 10:10 PM ^
But long term flexibility sure does.
October 22nd, 2023 at 10:11 PM ^
From what I’ve read, working for Mel was pretty stressful. Bet he likes the 5x (plus) increase in salary more than he dislikes the relative increase in stress.
October 22nd, 2023 at 10:37 PM ^
I've heard Mel Tucker was a hard guy to work for.
October 23rd, 2023 at 8:08 AM ^
He didn't have to accept the position. It will all be over in a month and as stressful as this time may be he will be better off for the experience.
October 22nd, 2023 at 9:33 PM ^
He seems like a decent guy in a very tough position.
He might actually be a good coach for them long-term, but I don't think they are going to keep him. They want a bigger, splashier name.
I hope they go after a former Broyles Award winner and someone who knows the Michigan program... Josh Gattis :)
October 22nd, 2023 at 9:36 PM ^
I feel for the players and Barnett they got screwed over by Tucker big time. The dude was getting paid a lot of money and this team has MAC level talent. What was he doing this whole time?
Barnett is between a hard spot and a rock and during the game yesterday you can tell he was hurting and had now answer to anything we were throwing at them.
October 22nd, 2023 at 9:58 PM ^
Have to respectfully disagree with you on this one, erald. I don't blame someone who isn't capable of doing a job for taking that job; I blame the people who hire him.
October 22nd, 2023 at 10:26 PM ^
What was he doing this whole time?
my guess is smoking cigars, spending money, and rubbin one out on the phone a few nights a week
October 23rd, 2023 at 7:45 AM ^
don't forget photo sessions.
October 22nd, 2023 at 9:38 PM ^
Yeah, I guess he’s OK. But he said MULTIPLE TIMES “we have to quit beating ourselves”! WTF - you got your asses kicked by a far superior team.
October 22nd, 2023 at 10:07 PM ^
Well if you watched Rutgers, he meant it literally. Sure they weren’t going to beat us yesterday, but more penalty yards than rush yards and you’re not going to beat anyone.
Bennett is in a tough position and seems to be handling it better than I would’ve expected any msu employee to handle themselves.
Their RB Carter actually was a hard runner and never quit. Good hands too. Too bad he used his one free transfer on sparty.
October 22nd, 2023 at 10:52 PM ^
and to think they had an object lesson in the hazards of beating yourself
October 23rd, 2023 at 5:55 AM ^
He was talking about Tucker
October 22nd, 2023 at 9:40 PM ^
Wish Harlon Barnett well at his next job outside of MSU.
October 22nd, 2023 at 9:47 PM ^
Speaking of interviews, when corum was asked after the game about what Harbaugh told the team after this ncaa news came out, he said “coach was up front about it” and we stayed focused. I’m really concerned as to what will happen with Harbaugh especially with the “rumors” of ncaa wanting Jim to be suspended for 2024.. WTF kind of evidence could they have??
October 22nd, 2023 at 10:11 PM ^
I have seen this rumor only on Facebook on a jank garbage page. Is this real or "Urban to MSU" level?
October 22nd, 2023 at 10:29 PM ^
I have no idea. Don’t know what to believe anymore. I said it the other day on here that I thought it was weird no player came out and defended what happened. Even if they didn’t know, I’m sure if they were told it’s bs, they would’ve let all the doubters know. And spare me the “they’re too focused”. So that with corums remarks, Harbaugh taking the high high road when asked about it, and then this “rumor” yea I’m a little skeptical that this is just “bs” and not something more
October 23rd, 2023 at 12:07 AM ^
They are literally not permitted to comment on it whatsoever, and I don't know why this is so difficult to understand.
October 23rd, 2023 at 8:14 AM ^
But the NCAA can make it public and violate their own policy AGAIN
October 22nd, 2023 at 9:49 PM ^
Hopefully MSU is good to Barnett - gives him some extra $ or something - on his way out.
He has been loyal to the Spartan program and he’s just trying to get them all through this. They're 0-5 since he took over --- and you are what your record says you are --- but neither have they looked incompetent and I haven’t seen them quit yet.
There are winnable games left and I hope they get a couple of them, so he has a few good memories to look back upon. But there's no chance MSU isn't making a clean sweep, Barnett among them.
October 23rd, 2023 at 6:58 AM ^
The thing with the “quitting” though is that usually shows up in practice first, and we don’t see that. His comments implied there may have been some problems that way.
October 23rd, 2023 at 10:42 AM ^
the AD will probably mandate whoever the new coach is that they keep him on staff.
October 22nd, 2023 at 9:49 PM ^
They have a lot of cleanup to do. I coached my son's little league team this past spring with a former Spartan athlete from the 2000's decade and became friends with him.
He has told me that he is very embarrassed by his alma mater. Everything from Nassar, the Tunnell incident, to Dantonio/Izzo issues. I have not even talked to him since the whole Mel Tucker phone sex debacle, so it will be interesting to get his take on that when I see him next. He said he has stopped donating to the school and has distanced himself from the athletic department.
He did say that he still has a lot friends from there, but he has kind of just moved on from being a supporter.
October 22nd, 2023 at 10:30 PM ^
I know it's very easy to look at RCMB and lump every Spartan fan into that group, but it's simply not the case. As a freshman the year MSU won the bball title, there was a TON of focus around campus regarding "this is how you should act, win, lose, or draw." Yeah, there's idiots on campus and on the Internet. When the second riot happened in 2005 I remember a lot of my classmates and friends being embarrassed by the whole thing (the prevailing thought was "Well, these kids wanted to have their own riot, and now they got it."). It's 2023 and "burning couches" is still a huge joke. Alcohol + immaturity = stupid decisions that everyone pays for.
That was a tangent I didn't mean to go off on, I agree with your friend. I love sports but it's getting harder and harder to take the jibes and slams from people.
October 22nd, 2023 at 11:35 PM ^
Does anyone remember if their rioting/couch burning was a thing before the 2000s? I was a 90s baby so only remember from the early 2000s on in terms if sports.
Looking at their football records they were not really more than a consistent 6-6 to 7-5 team most years, and before Izzo they were mostly just okay at basketball with the occasional really good year. Their best sport was probably hockey.