Mel Tucker leaves CU for Michigan State

[BuffsNYC]

As I said before, the norm of allowing other schools to talk to your coaches re poaching them needs to change. It is essentially a waiver of all tortious interference claims for these sorts of damage claims.

To quote the great Harvey Korman: “No more Mr. Goodbar.”

It's not like college coaching contracts are written in a vacuum. You don't have to include a "buyout clause" (which is actually a liquidated damages clause), you can just write an employment contract for a certain number of years. If you do that, however, breaking up is terribly messy. Fire the coach and he's entitled to the remainder of the contracted for salary, but maybe he has a duty to mitigate and you can deduct his next salary from what you owe, maybe you have to sue when he takes minimum wage for his next job. As I said-- messy. Let's say the coach quits. Courts are loathe to force someone to work for you even if they had a contract, so you're not going to be able to keep the guy against his will--not that you would want to. Does the coach then owe you what remains of his contractual salary? No, he's not doing the job anymore, someone else is. Do you have damages? Maybe, how do you value them?

This is why coaching salaries have buyout terms. Plus, it's not like CU can unilaterally decide to only offer contracts outside the norm for college coaches.

 

[Heywood]

Sadly, the bush is nearly extinct.

You must not be married

 

[4BienemyTDs]

So, you think that Colorado should break the contract that its lawyers wrote? Cool story.

I think this leads to enhancements in contracts similar to what European soccer does, or even Japanese baseball players. If you leave, the Buyout is just the coach. If you want to talk to your old staff, then you pay an access fee. Yes, you can talk to them after you pay the fee.

 

[GawainBuff]

So, you think that Colorado should break the contract that its lawyers wrote? Cool story.

This would’t be “breaking the contract,” per se; it would be attempting to pursue additional damages via other provisions, language of the contract. Likely such claims would fail, however, in part because RG gave MSU permission to poach, as it were; and the “buy out” is likely written expansively.

Such lawsuits are made even more onerous, of course, by “attorneys fees” provisions, which go to the prevailing party.

 

[OsideBuff]

Tucker..his legacy...

 

[MKBuffs]

Inside the Surreal Final Hours of Mel Tucker at Colorado

The night he took the Michigan State job, Mel Tucker was affirming his commitment to Colorado boosters and fans.

www.si.com

 

[manhattanbuff]

This would’t be “breaking the contract,” per se; it would be attempting to pursue additional damages via other provisions, language of the contract. Likely such claims would fail, however, in part because RG gave MSU permission to poach, as it were; and the “buy out” is likely written expansively.

Such lawsuits are made even more onerous, of course, by “attorneys fees” provisions, which go to the prevailing party.

It literally says in the contract the terms for either party terminating the contract, including dates. There’s no statement of damages violated by MT as outlined in the contract. There’s no basis for this type of action other than hurt feelings.

 

[Jens1893]

I think this leads to enhancements in contracts similar to what European soccer does, or even Japanese baseball players. If you leave, the Buyout is just the coach. If you want to talk to your old staff, then you pay an access fee. Yes, you can talk to them after you pay the fee.

What is your point and what is it we do here exactly?

 

[manhattanbuff]

I think this leads to enhancements in contracts similar to what European soccer does, or even Japanese baseball players. If you leave, the Buyout is just the coach. If you want to talk to your old staff, then you pay an access fee. Yes, you can talk to them after you pay the fee.

Transfer fees are highly irregular in American sports. It ain’t happening here.

 

[Jens1893]

Transfer fees are highly irregular in American sports. It ain’t happening here.

But mostly because US pro sports is a socialist system and a closed shop where everything stays "within the family". CFB just applies basic capitalist principles that are universally praised when it concerns the economy.

 

[Buffnik]

Inside the Surreal Final Hours of Mel Tucker at Colorado

The night he took the Michigan State job, Mel Tucker was affirming his commitment to Colorado boosters and fans.

www.si.com

Just finished reading that. Much kinder to Tucker than it could have been even though he looks real bad in it.

 

[Jens1893]

Mel Tucker’s Michigan State opportunity was 30 years in the making

It all began when he was a high school senior in Cleveland.

theathletic.com

“When Michigan State reached out to my agent late (last) Friday, I was flattered to be considered, but I had a great job, a job that needed me to be 100-percent focused and committed — from donors to media to hiring a new (assistant) coach,” Tucker told The Athletic. “But when Michigan State’s interest in me leaked, I had no inclination that I would leave. None. So, I wanted to quell any speculation. I was advised not to tweet the word ‘committed,’ just in case. But I’m not a half-in and half-out person. I was committed to keeping CU football going in the right direction.

“I meant what I said on Twitter, and in the media. I played to the whistle. My philosophy for my players is to work hard, be relentless and play to the whistle and that applies to me as well. But then Michigan State came back and blew the whistle. They made it impossible for me to turn down a job that took me home to a place I began my career, and at a school that I had always dreamed of coaching.”

Michigan State had actually come back to Tucker’s agent twice: First on Feb. 10 with a sizable offer, but the coach didn’t feel like he was inclined to leave Colorado for it. A Colorado source told The Athletic that Tucker had scheduled a prospective defensive line coach to fly into Boulder two days later to interview for a vacant job, something that wouldn’t seem like the move of a head coach primed to leave town.

Tucker also agreed to do a local radio appearance in Denver while taking part in a fundraising tour for CU, another move that didn’t seem to square with someone fixing to bolt. But that’s also around the time Michigan State came back with an even bigger offer, one that would double Tucker’s staff salary pool and more than double his own salary from CU. It was a deal Tucker believed he couldn’t turn down, not with the resources Michigan State was offering him to come back home to the Big Ten. He finally made his decision late on the night of Feb. 11. Less than 24 hours later, Tucker was being introduced as the new head coach at the school where Saban breathed life into his coaching career.

 

[Buffnik]

Mel Tucker’s Michigan State opportunity was 30 years in the making

It all began when he was a high school senior in Cleveland.

theathletic.com

I guess Mel was advised by his PR firm it wouldn't be well-received to tell people that he had hired a personal PR firm and had them set up these media interviews in order to pressure MSU to sweeten its deal. I suppose that it also wouldn't play well to tell people he changed agents during his negotiations with CU last year and then change agents again this year.

 

[hawg1]

Just finished reading that. Much kinder to Tucker than it could have been even though he looks real bad in it.

Interesting ethical question: what would you have done with radio interviews and booster event on Tuesday knowing you didn’t have a deal?

he choose poor language at times. He also send large warning signals.

 

[Jens1893]

I guess Mel was advised by his PR firm it wouldn't be well-received to tell people that he had hired a personal PR firm and had them set up these media interviews in order to pressure MSU to sweeten its deal. I suppose that it also wouldn't play well to tell people he changed agents during his negotiations with CU last year and then change agents again this year.

The radio interviews he did were a pure power play on his part. Like when you're almost provocatively flirting with someone in front of your partner in order to get something.

 

[Leon Sandcastle]

had them set up these media interviews in order to pressure MSU to sweeten its deal.

Is this true? I only ask because Troy Renck was saying the other day that these were interviews that had been outstanding for some time related to signing day, and he was making good on a previous commitment. Troy was saying that he was pissed because he felt that MT should have cancelled these if he was still negotiating (I agree with that). I suppose both elements of this story could be true, just curious...

 

[Buffnik]

Is this true? I only ask because Troy Renck was saying the other day that these were interviews that had been outstanding for some time related to signing day, and he was making good on a previous commitment. Troy was saying that he was pissed because he felt that MT should have cancelled these if he was still negotiating (I agree with that). I suppose both elements of this story could be true, just curious...

I had heard that these were not set up through the CU SID, at least not all of them.

 

[Creebuzz]

I’m usually one to shrug off these things as business. Mel Tucker is a particularly abhorrent piece of crap, though.

I’ve moved on, everyone else should too.

 

[hawg1]

The radio interviews he did were a pure power play on his part. Like when you're almost provocatively flirting with someone in front of your partner in order to get something.

I’m not sure given the Feldman article.

 

[hawg1]

Is this true? I only ask because Troy Renck was saying the other day that these were interviews that had been outstanding for some time related to signing day, and he was making good on a previous commitment. Troy was saying that he was pissed because he felt that MT should have cancelled these if he was still negotiating (I agree with that). I suppose both elements of this story could be true, just curious...

I don’t this this is true. Feldman, o think, indicated otherwise. Maybe I am wrong though. Info overload from two well done articles.

 

[Jens1893]

I’m not sure given the Feldman article.

Feldman's info mostly comes from Tucker directly so it'll have his spin.

 

[cu3x]

Inside the Surreal Final Hours of Mel Tucker at Colorado

The night he took the Michigan State job, Mel Tucker was affirming his commitment to Colorado boosters and fans.

www.si.com

The comment about his eyes not looking right, when he was at that fund-raiser, can be repeated for that video clip. He is clearly bothered, lying, maybe lost in a world of deceit. Once in awhile an otherwise good man does something bad and lives to really regret it. I hope this fiasco and his lies haunt him.

 

[Liver]

snake oil salesman. lied to kids; lied to his co-workers, lied to his employees and employers; lied to the fans; lied to boosters; lied to the press; lied to recruits; lied to players. lied, lied, lied.

there are right ways and wrong ways to do things. timing matters. honesty matters. had this happened at in a normal time window, i would be still be pissed and view him in a very unfavorable light. but, the way he did this is wrong. i understand that the timing was triggered by msu's coach departing at the worst possible time, but their troubles do not excuse tucker's actions.

at the end of the day, he decided a fat check was more important to him than his word to a whole bunch of people who trusted him. he can talk about integrity and doing things the right way and all the rest. he's put a permanent stain on his reputation and, frankly, i now hope he fails miserably. he will be negatively recruited against and rightfully so.

he's not worthy of our respect or thanks. he is simply an opportunistic user who lied to a bunch of kids for his own benefit.

now that i have all that off my chest, i am done talking about this giant lying asshole. i may gloat a bit if he falls on his face.

 

[Deleted member 807]

Interesting ethical question: what would you have done with radio interviews and booster event on Tuesday knowing you didn’t have a deal?

he choose poor language at times. He also send large warning signals.

Don’t lie. Better to say nothing than the wrong thing.

More specifically, don’t communicate misleading statements involving your unwavering commitment to CU if that is not truthful. Make a point to talk about the past instead of the future. Tell stories that are crowd pleasing, about the struggle to get to this point in time. Eulogize your parents and how you balance being a dad while being a coach. Provide funny or inspirational stories that provide insights about what makes you, you. Revisit how great it was to stick it to Nebraska. Provide a status about the search for the next Ralphie. But, for **** sake, do NOT include any forward looking statements involving your ongoing commitment to CU at the exact time you are negotiating an exit. Do not be a double dealing, two-faced, low integrity, untrustworthy, lying piece of ****. Earn your money by displaying character, integrity, discretion, and professionalism.

When it is clear you are of a firm mind to move on, cancel the booster and radio gigs. Replace those events with a meeting with RG and LC to discuss a communication strategy that addresses how to manage counter offers, messaging to the assistant coaches, players and the media, and exit logistics.

Say “no comment”, avoid twitter chatter, and bunker down on social media for a few days.

Do not give people a reason to hate you for looking out for your own career. Be gracious, humble, and aware that deceit burns bridges.

 

[Here4hottakes]

Something I haven't seen discussed here was the Brumbaugh move. It was assumed that Brumbaugh knew what was coming and left. But, Its possible that losing Brumbaugh was the writing on the wall for Mel that he didn't have the financial support here that he thought he needed. It may have been the catalyst that made up his mind to move on. The rest was just negotiation.

 

[Buffnik]

Something I haven't seen discussed here was the Brumbaugh move. It was assumed that Brumbaugh knew what was coming and left. But, Its possible that losing Brumbaugh was the writing on the wall for Mel that he didn't have the financial support here that he thought he needed. It may have been the catalyst that made up his mind to move on. The rest was just negotiation.

Or maybe RG & LC weren't enamored with the idea of the $375k pay increase for Brumbaugh already on the table not being enough... and being expected to step up to pay even more than that for a guy whose favorite recruiting move was finding a recruit because he was sleeping on a coach in the football office of a Mississippi JUCO and looked good to him -- which allowed him to poach 2 guys from Old Dominion in a single class.

 

[BuffsNYC]

Something I haven't seen discussed here was the Brumbaugh move. It was assumed that Brumbaugh knew what was coming and left. But, Its possible that losing Brumbaugh was the writing on the wall for Mel that he didn't have the financial support here that he thought he needed. It may have been the catalyst that made up his mind to move on. The rest was just negotiation.

Yep, losing Brumbaugh was the straw that broke the camel's back, not the 30 million straws paid by MSU. GMAFB.

 

[Deleted member 807]

Something I haven't seen discussed here was the Brumbaugh move. It was assumed that Brumbaugh knew what was coming and left. But, Its possible that losing Brumbaugh was the writing on the wall for Mel that he didn't have the financial support here that he thought he needed. It may have been the catalyst that made up his mind to move on. The rest was just negotiation.

His mentor Nick Saban was tapped by the MSU AD to deliver the next Spartan HC.
Mel took inventory of his loyalties. (RG +CU+recruits) < (Saban’s kissing ring + MSU $$$)

It’s that simple.

 

[hawg1]

Don’t lie. Better to say nothing than the wrong thing.

More specifically, don’t communicate misleading statements involving your unwavering commitment to CU if that is not truthful. Make a point to talk about the past instead of the future. Tell stories that are crowd pleasing, about the struggle to get to this point in time. Eulogize your parents and how you balance being a dad while being a coach. Provide funny or inspirational stories that provide insights about what makes you, you. Revisit how great it was to stick it to ****braska. Provide a status about the search for the next Ralphie. But, for **** sake, do NOT include any forward looking statements involving your ongoing commitment to CU at the exact time you are negotiating an exit. Do not be a double dealing, two-faced, low integrity, untrustworthy, lying piece of ****. Earn your money by displaying character, integrity, discretion, and professionalism.

When it is clear you are of a firm mind to move on, cancel the booster and radio gigs. Replace those events with a meeting with RG and LG to discuss a communication strategy that addresses how to manage counter offers, messaging to the assistant coaches, players and the media, and exit logistics.

Say “no comment”, avoid twitter chatter, and bunker down on social media for a few days.

Do not give people a reason to hate you for looking out for your own career. Be gracious, humble, and aware that deceit burns bridges.

These are great suggestions. In large part, I fully agree. I’m just not sure they mesh with the timeline. But, I agree with the principles.

 

[Mb2658]

It’s not like it matters at this point but I don’t really believe that this was all a last minute “offer he couldn’t refuse” situation. I remember thinking that the videos of him talking to the phone with the new recruits on NSD seemed oddly canned and impersonal. Maybe I’m reading them wrong but they seemed odd to me especially the call with Jayle Stacks. Tucker talks about him flipping. Struck me as weird.