Harlon Barnett is excited and prepared to lead Michigan State as the 2023 season continues. Barnett has spent a great deal of time in East Lansing, playing for the university from 1985 to 1990 and coaching from 2007 to 2018 and 2020 to the present.
Barnett is tasked with the biggest job within the football program, taking over for head coach Mel Tucker in the aftermath of a USA TODAY investigative report into sexual harassment allegations involving Mel Tucker.
Buy Spartans TicketsThere’s no secret Barnett’s first test as acting head coach will be a tough one. The Spartans play host to No. 8 Washington inside of Spartan Stadium on Saturday.
You can watch the full press conference here.
Barnett spoke to the media for the first time on Tuesday afternoon, speaking on the team, the game and himself:
Opening statement
Harlon Barnett's presser is under way. Says they had a team meeting on Sunday where he told his team they had to all come together in this time of adversity and they needed their leaders to lead. "This is a determined group. … they're still motivated and excited."
— Graham Couch (@Graham_Couch) September 12, 2023
Barnett opened the press conference sharing that he met with the team on Sunday and they are focused and fired up.
On being the head coach
Barnett: "I wanted to be the head coach at Michigan State. But not in this way, obviously. That's always been a goal of mine."
— Chris Solari (@chrissolari) September 12, 2023
Barnett echoed that his dream is to be the head coach at Michigan State, not necessarily in the way it happened, but he is excited for the opportunity.
On meeting with MSU's players
Harlon Barnett says that he will individually meet with every single player on the Michigan State team.
Has met with 27 players already, aiming for another 20-plus today.
This is in addition to the team-wide meetings and operations throughout the week.
— SpartanTailgate.com (@SpartanTailgate) September 12, 2023
Barnett has expressed that he wants to meet with every player on the roster individually this week.
On talking to Alan Haller
Barnett said he had not talked to Alan Haller about him being a head coaching contingency plan. They talked about Barnett's desire to become a head coach years ago at Dantonio's daughter's wedding. The two were teammates at MSU in the late 1980s under George Perles.
— Chris Solari (@chrissolari) September 12, 2023
Barnett shared he did not know he was the guy if something were to happen but in his longtime relationship with Haller he has mentioned he wants to be a head coach.
On the Spartans as a whole
Barnett: "We're tough, we're Spartans, we're resilient. And for another term I tell people all the time, 'I'm a dawg.' We'll push through this."
— Chris Solari (@chrissolari) September 12, 2023
A sentiment that has been echoed by the fan base all week, Spartans are resilient and tough.
On talking to Mel Tucker
Barnett said he hasn't talked to Mel Tucker since after Saturday's game but they have exchanged text messages, he added. "He was all in support" of the team and coaches.
— Chris Solari (@chrissolari) September 12, 2023
While Barnett noted he has not spoken to Tucker, he has received a text message from him supporting the team.
On coach Dantonio being around
Barnett on things he's heard from Dantonio the past few days, bouncing ideas of what they might change in the coming days and weeks. "I'm glad he's here. I love me some coach D."
— Chris Solari (@chrissolari) September 12, 2023
Barnett talking about Dantonio put a smile on his face, and he echoed that he loves having him around.
On leading the team out of the tunnel
Barnett asked if he's thought about leading the team out of the tunnel before kickoff Saturday: "I haven't. You just put it in my mind. … When it comes, I'll probably be a little emotional. But I'll be cool, I promise."
— Chris Solari (@chrissolari) September 12, 2023
It will be an emotional experience for Barnett to lead the team out of the tunnel on Saturday, as it will for the fans and players.
On current 2024 commits
Barnett said he's talked with commits/recruits and they're "all in" right now.
— Matt Wenzel (@mwenzel2) September 12, 2023
Barnett said current commits have been contacted, and they are all in and in good spirits.
On injuries
.@chrissolari asks Harlon Barnett about injuries, brings out a laugh. Cites Bill Belichick and says of injured players, they're "day to day."
Side note: Barnett, years ago, used to be one of those coaches that would let injuries slip occasionally. We'll see if that continues.
— Graham Couch (@Graham_Couch) September 12, 2023
Barnett made the whole room laugh with his Bill Belichick-esq answer to the roster’s current injuries.
On recruiting the players on the roster
Barnett on rerecruiting the roster with immediate portal potential for them if/when Tucker is fired: "That's always an emphasis, you never stop recruiting."
— Chris Solari (@chrissolari) September 12, 2023
Recruiting the players on the roster to avoid a portal exodus is of the upmost importance to Barnett, and he knows it.
On facing Michael Penix
Barnett on Dantonio's input on facing Washington QB Michael Penix Jr.: "Our staff is a really good staff, elite staff is what I told them in the meeting. … Any information and all information he provides, people are locked in and listening. Because we want the advantage."
— Chris Solari (@chrissolari) September 12, 2023
Penix will be a major first test for Barnett, but he has confident in the staff.
On midseason transfers/redshirt
“Not one, not one, nope, not one.”
Harlon Barnett on @StephenM_Brooks’ question regarding if any players have expressed plans to transfer mid-season by taking a redshirt season.
— SpartanTailgate.com (@SpartanTailgate) September 12, 2023
Barnett has echoed the team is all in and focused on the mission, with no one expressing a desire to sit out to preserve a redshirt to eventually transfer.
