ESPN names Mel Tucker Colorado football's biggest archenemy

ESPN has crowned a former Colorado football coach as the Buffaloes' biggest archenemy after his sudden exit in 2020 left a lasting rift in Boulder. The network's ranking singled out Mel Tucker, who left Colorado after just one season to take the Michigan State job, despite guiding the Buffaloes to a 4-2 record in the pandemic-shortened 2020 season. Fans remain sharply divided over whether Tucker's departure was a betrayal or a justified career move, but his name now sits atop the list of Colorado's most contentious figures.

The controversy stems from Tucker's decision to bolt for East Lansing in February 2020, just weeks before the Buffaloes were scheduled to face off against Colorado State in the rivalry game. Tucker had arrived in Boulder in December 2019 with fanfare, hired by then-athletic director Rick George to revive a program that had struggled for years. His abrupt resignation triggered a wave of frustration among fans who felt he abandoned the program midstream. The timing couldn’t have been worse—Colorado was in the midst of a rare winning stretch, and Tucker’s departure left the team in disarray just before spring practices.

ESPN’s ranking adds fuel to an already heated debate. A 2023 poll by *The Denver Post* showed that 58% of Colorado fans viewed Tucker’s departure as a betrayal, while 32% saw it as a natural career progression. Tucker’s tenure at Michigan State has since flourished, with the Spartans reaching the College Football Playoff in 2021 and 2022, further rubbing salt in the wound for Colorado supporters. Meanwhile, Colorado has cycled through three coaches since Tucker left, each struggling to replicate his early success. The Buffaloes haven’t had a winning season since 2021 and have fallen behind rivals like Colorado State and Oregon in recruiting.

What happens next could hinge on Colorado’s ability to stabilize its program under new head coach Deion Sanders. Sanders, hired in late 2022, has injected energy and hype into the program, but on-field results remain inconsistent. If Sanders can turn things around, Tucker’s legacy as Colorado’s top villain might fade. But if the struggles continue, the wounds from 2020 could deepen, making Tucker’s name synonymous with unfulfilled promise in Boulder. For now, the debate rages on—fans still bring signs to games questioning Tucker’s loyalty, and his name is met with a mix of boos and cheers.