Spartan Nation is fortunate to be home to one of the most storied college football programs.
This team has a great tradition of winning multiple national titles, singlehandedly breaking racial barriers and producing some of the greatest athletes in the sport.
So today I want to answer some of your questions about our football program.
Hondo-san, I remember watching a Michigan State basketball game (I think it was Indiana) and shortly afterwards it was reported that the Spartans had hired Mel Tucker. They said he was at least the 5th choice. Can you tell me what happened? Corey B. Mason, Michigan
Then-Michigan State AD Bill Beekman essentially hired a recruiting firm to help select the next coach, and while I understand that a company would do the background checks since they are private, it was a bit of a joke to let the process go the way they did in my opinion. If an AD needs that much help with one of their most important jobs, they would be better off hiring a new AD.
By the way, I don't blame Mr. Beekman, I blame the leadership above him at Michigan State entirely. Mr. Beekman was put in a difficult position.
Former Michigan State DC and current Pittsburgh Panthers coach Pat Narduzzi was offered the job twice — before and after signing day. He turned it down twice. And there were other candidates considered who could have gotten the job.
Michigan State University was woefully unprepared for the lack of interest in the job, and ultimately paid a high salary to get someone to accept it, and from what I saw, the candidate was woefully unprepared.
Plus, it was a game in Champaign, Illinois, and I was in the press room when we covered it.
Hondo, I'm glad you just answered the MSU question. I think you covered the Mel Tucker thing, and you said he was a bad recruit at the time. What did you see? Sam W. Detroit, Michigan
He had a losing record in just one year as a coach. Some schools, like Michigan State, are not the place to learn how to be a head coach. He moved around a lot and the stories I heard on the phone were far from impressive. The stories I heard on a few calls were what a well-prepared Michigan State should have gotten.
Hondo, words can't express how great your answers were for Spartan Nation's Q&A. It's amazing to see your career soaring. When I saw you tweet your love for Jonathan Smith and see you repeating it on Twitter, I knew he was one of us. Tell us what you think of this rookie so far. Jesse T.
Jonathan Smith wasn't the most well-known coach, but in my opinion, and I said this before he was hired, he was the best coach. He's a great person, teacher, coach, leader, and guy. Michigan State was very successful in recruiting him and he is the best recruit since Nick Saban. Unfortunately, college football is not the same game it was back then and there is a lot more to it than what hinders or promotes winning. Coaching today in college and at Michigan State is a lot more complicated than when Nick was coaching and I think he would tell you that.
Are you using the term Las Vegas Hondo to buy and sell MSU football and Smith? Larry N.
I definitely believe so, but as I said above, college football has changed dramatically now. As one head coach told me, “Back in the day, it was about being a good coach, having good facilities, and being able to recruit players. Now it's not as important to have a bad coach, bad facilities, or be able to recruit players.” I want Smith to succeed, and he's good enough. The biggest question is whether Spartan Nation wants to be a dominant program.
Hondo, I know you've been a big supporter of Jonathan Smith. What do you think is the biggest key to his success in East Lansing? Shawn B. Grand Rapids, Michigan
Money for NIL. Great guy with great facilities and great staff. He's already proven he can acquire and develop players. Once they emerge, keeping them will depend on NIL paying them. He can do all the right things but he needs NIL to keep them here. Otherwise he'll be a minor league for a team with money, let them develop and then they'll swoop in and buy them.
Hondo, what do you think of the Spartans' new QB? Is he the real deal? Samantha K. Midland, Michigan
Aidan Childs is the real deal. He can do it all and best of all, he can run it the Smith way. MSU is lucky to have him, a great player and a great young man.
Hondo, my friends and I have been arguing about this for years and you are the man to settle this. In your opinion, would Michigan State have done better with Connor Cook's team and Kirk Cousins at quarterback? Win a national title? Kenny L.
No. I respect and love Kirk. Connor had the character and mentality needed. I just don't think Kirk was able to achieve some of the intangibles that made Cook a great player for that team.
If it was an NFL team I could pick, I would have picked Kirk for sure, but that wasn't the case with those teams. In my opinion, the Spartans won despite, not because of, their offensive coach's leadership. Cook beat them. Kirk, being more talented, would have been more loyal and wouldn't have taken the risks that Cook did.
Hondo, I love listening to you on the radio. Now you're taking questions about MSU football, but this time it's about the Big Ten. Which teams are not in the conversation in the Big Ten because of NIL or other issues? Jan A.
No doubt about it, Nebraska. With great coaching, they will be a NIL powerhouse in the coming years.
If you have a question about Michigan State University football, basketball or the athletics program in general, submit it with “MSU Q & A” in the subject line.
Don't forget to follow the official Spartan Nation page on Facebook: Spartan Nation Click hereAlso join our vibrant community group, Go Green Go White Click here.
