EAST LANSING, Mich. (AP) – Michigan State coach Mark Dantonio says he has no regrets about reinstating Chris L. Rucker immediately after the defensive back served eight days in jail for a probation violation.
Rucker didn’t start for the Spartans last week against Iowa, but he entered Saturday’s game in the second quarter. Michigan State lost 37-6.
“In terms of the timing of it all, I would have done nothing different,” Dantonio said Tuesday. “I believe that whenever you have a problem you need to get out front as best you can and handle your problem, and I think he did that. That problem was not resolved until Thursday, so I wasn’t making any decisions until Thursday.”
Rucker was suspended indefinitely last month when he was charged with operating a vehicle while intoxicated. He later pleaded guilty to a reduced charge of reckless driving.
Rucker had been sentenced to 12 months of probation and 150 hours of community service for assault less than a year earlier for his role in an on-campus fight.
He missed wins over Illinois and Northwestern last month but was allowed back on the team last Thursday. He is listed as a starter for the 16th-ranked Spartans’ Saturday game against Minnesota.
“He failed, and he’ll have to live with those consequences, and the public scrutiny of those consequences, for the rest of his life,” Dantonio said. “I still have to say to him, ‘Look, you didn’t do the right thing, but we can fix this for you in terms of coming back into the family. We can help you reshape your life.”’
After bringing Rucker back last week, Dantonio issued a nine-paragraph statement Thursday night explaining his decision. He brought up the issue again Tuesday without being asked, then took questions about it.
“I know what my players think about me, and I know what my players’ families think about me. That’s what has to count in this situation. You look at it as a big family. … I know it’s not a popular decision, probably, for some, but for others it’s a very popular decision, and who can say?” Dantonio said.
“I will try to do the best I can for each individual player that’s here and their families. I think that’s what they signed up for. They didn’t sign up to come here and go 11-1. They signed up because they felt I would take care of their sons – I would try and take their sons and mold them into a productive member in society.”
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