What They Are Saying About Coach Tucker

NICK SABAN - University of Alabama Head Coach (2007-present)
"I've known Mel for well over 20 years and he is one of the brightest coaches in our profession. I think he will do an outstanding job as the head coach of the Colorado Buffaloes. They are getting a guy with a great personality, who knows college football, works hard each and every day, and does it with a tremendous amount of enthusiasm and positive energy."

KIRBY SMART - University of Georgia Head Football Coach (2016-present)
"When I came to Georgia in December of 2015, one of my top priorities was to bring Mel Tucker in as defensive coordinator. He is an exceptional coach, coordinator and trusted friend. He has a great combination of college experience, time in the NFL and has been a remarkable mentor to our players. Mel has been one of the major influences in the success we have had and we will certainly miss him. But I look forward to following his career and the opportunity he has at Colorado."

BARRY ALVAREZ - Wisconsin Athletic Director (Tucker's Head Coach, 1990-94)
"Mel was a part of my first recruiting class at Wisconsin and helped us turn the program around. He is an outstanding individual and a really good football person. His background, the people and the programs he has worked for and the success he's been a part of is very impressive. He's been successful at both the NFL and college level. He is truly a quality individual and the people at Colorado are going to love Mel."

ROMEO CRENNEL - Houston Texans Defensive Coordinator / Cleveland Browns (2005-08)
"Congratulations to Mel Tucker and the Colorado Buffaloes on a fantastic hire. Mel is a great coach with a proven track record of success, but he's also a tremendous person with a great family that will represent the university with nothing but class. I look forward to seeing the program he will build at Colorado and wish him the best of luck."

JIM TRESSEL - Ohio State Head Coach (2001-10)
"Mel Tucker is a special communicator, a family man, and a superb football coach. The Buffalo Football Family will thrive under Mel's leadership. A man with high expectations for himself and his student-athletes, Colorado Football will enjoy a terrific recruiter, football strategist, and an "all-in" member of the community. (ALL GOOD WISHES, Coach Mel!")

JOHN WOOTEN - Former Buff ('58)/College Football Hall of Fame Inductee
(After learning Tucker was hired) "Today, I am as happy as I was when we beat Clemson to win the 1957 Orange Bowl. Mel Tucker has been one of the top people in football as a coach and is a top quality person. Our families go back a long, long time. This is a sensational young man, a man of integrity just like his father. I am so excited that Rick George and the CU leadership believe Mel is the right person for the job. I would have told them so ahead of time … I am just thrilled with this."

CHRIS FOWLER - Colorado Alum ('86), ESPN College Football Personality (1990-present)
"Mel Tucker is a strong, inspired choice to lead the Buffs' football program. I've spent a lot of time around the UGA program and have been impressed with his football savvy, communication skills, and recruiting talents. He has worked very hard for this opportunity and I believe he will seize it and succeed."

JOEL KLATT - Colorado Alum ('05), FOX Sports College Football Personality (2013-present)
"Coach Tucker is one of the most respected coaches in the industry with a long track record of success coaching with the best college football and the NFL have to offer. Beloved by his players, Coach Tucker has a rare ability to connect with and motivate today's athlete. His defenses and teams have been some of the most successful, and more importantly, toughest teams in the sport. (Welcome to the Buff Family, coach!)

BRIAN IWUH - Former Buff Linebacker ('05), Jacksonville Jaguar (2009)
"Mel was great, a very good coach, just a solid guy who tells it like it is. I enjoyed playing for Mel. He got along with all of us, everybody liked him and was fond of him. His big thing was, 'scoop and score.' He always wanted the defense to make an impact. Get after the ball, let's score on defense."

PAUL POSLUSZNY - Penn State's Two-Time Bednarik Award Winner, Former Jacksonville Jaguar
"I believe that Coach Tucker will absolutely make a great head coach, especially at the collegiate level. He has great command, presence, and he's very influential. He's very structured, detailed, and organized as well. I would have run through a brick wall if he asked me to." (Posluszny was just the second player to win the Chuck Bednarik Award twice (2005-06), and also won the 2005 Butkus Award)

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