Mile High Sports

Twitter reacts to the sudden departure of Mel Tucker

Danny Bailey

Oct 6, 2018; Boulder, CO, USA; Members of the Colorado Buffaloes run on to Folsom Field before the game against the Arizona State Sun Devils. Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports

The news late Tuesday night that Mel Tucker would be taking the head coaching job at Michigan State came as a surprise to many. This morning, University of Colorado athletic director Rick George confirmed that Tucker would resign effective immediately.

And now the work begins to replace him.

There is some continuity in the coaching staff that extends past Tucker’s year as head coach. Darren Chiaverini has been coaching at Colorado since 2016 and has been very vocal in his commitment to the program. His energy and positive attitude are no doubt a huge asset in the recruiting process.

“Stay strong and stay together” – from the assistant head coach before 5:00 AM on a Wednesday in the offseason.

His importance to the program is recognized by many, with one former Buff and Bronco, Matt McChesney, calling for Chiaverini to be promoted to the head coaching position.

https://twitter.com/SixZeroAcademy/status/1227607947905077248

Chiaverini then was promoted to interim head coach while the next more permanent head coach is searched for.

Darian Hagan has been a member of the CU football staff for a total of 15 years. Five years twice as a running backs coach under different head coaches and also in player personnel and player development director roles. Hagan was also a key player in the late 1980s for the Buffaloes.

As the situation breathes and the dust settles, Rick George will have a tough decision to make at a point in the offseason when most coaching vacancies are already filled. Still, there is no lack of faith in the AD to bring a quality group of candidates in to pick the next head coach.

It’s really about the players though, isn’t it? This is about the teenagers and young adults making a difficult decision about where to spend the next several years of their lives. Or the players who have already seen one coach leave in Mike MacIntyre, and now another come and go in just one season.

There is a feeling of betrayal among these student athletes, whether they signed a week ago, a year ago, whenever.

Running back Jaren Mangham was quick to share his thoughts.

Highly recruited incoming freshman Ashaad Clayton, who may be joining Mangham in the backfield in this year or the next, added:

Another recent signee, Texas safety Christian Gonzalez, reaffirmed his commitment.

Texas raised outside linebacker Devin Grant did the same.

As did defensive lineman Jordan Berry from California.

Texas receiver Keith Miller also.

https://twitter.com/KeithMillerIII/status/1227585778408181760

Colorado native and redshirt freshman offensive lineman Jake Wiley took the news in stride.

Junior college transfer Jaylen Striker kept with the theme of his new teammates and had little to say, in a sort of disbelief.

https://twitter.com/NgStrike3/status/1227579387270352896

 

The main issue many players took with the whole situation was the way Mel Tucker handled it. They felt betrayed and lied to.

https://twitter.com/jordanberry40/status/1227607996299005958

https://twitter.com/KhiBlackmon/status/1227494538622562304

Blackmon, an upperclassmen cornerback, is right. They don’t deserve it. Tucker even said something not too long ago about the whole farce that is the transfer portal.

A major argument about the NCAA rules right now is that coaches can freely move between schools without adverse effects, but student athletes wishing to change schools have to sit out a year.

Former Buffaloes and current NFL players shared their thoughts also. Such as Raiders CB Ken Crawley.

https://twitter.com/RIPGADGETT/status/1227582212889030661

Broncos breakout running back Phillip Lindsay still close to Boulder and present at many athletic events, not just football games feels for his fellow Buffs.

Support and school pride ring loudly in Packers’ offensive lineman David Bakhtiari’s response.

Drew Pearson, Superbowl XII champion and member of the Cowboys ring of honor, recently had a fiery reaction when he was snubbed for the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Obviously he didn’t let the heat all out then as he had this to say.

With all the negative, however, a calming voice of reason and the model of upperclassmen leadership came in the shape of KD Nixon. After withdrawing his name from the 2020 NFL Draft to return for his senior season at Colorado, Nixon is a key returning starter with youth all around him on offense and in the locker room as a whole.

https://twitter.com/Superstarnixon/status/1227655423383048192

A professional and positive response from a player who will lead this team into a new day with other seniors Nate Landman, Derrion Rakestraw, and Mustafa Johnson on defense and Kary Kutsch on the offensive line.

The jolting end to his tenure: a team meeting that excluded Tucker.

And apparently Colorado never even had a chance to counter.

Other reactions around twitter:

https://twitter.com/KeithMillerIII/status/1227607330201767938

https://twitter.com/KhiBlackmon/status/1227654809823535104

https://twitter.com/barstoolsports/status/1227664919023116288

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