Junior tailback T.J. Duckett is bolting from East Lansing - and a local favorite sandwich will probably be close behind.
As the news of Duckett’s formal senior-year-skipping announcement bounced around town Thursday afternoon, fans had varying reactions. Some thought he should have stayed another year, others agreed with his decision.
On the fringe of the post-Duckett uncertainty was the future of the T.J. Duckett-Musget - a turkey and roast beef concoction created by Sidestreet Deli of East Lansing, 605 E. Grand River Ave.
The sandwich, which also includes honey and spicy mustards, lettuce and tomatoes served on cheese bread, has carried the hulking rusher’s name since summer 2000.
Sidestreet Manager Josh Ray said the store can’t legally name the sandwich after Duckett once he becomes a professional player, unless it gets expressed consent from Duckett himself.
“We’ll probably have to change the name of the sandwich when he gets drafted this spring,” Ray said. “But we’ll keep the sandwich - just rename it. Maybe it can be the Chuckie Rogers or the Smokey Smoker.
“But we’re still big fans of T.J., and we’ve been supporting Spartan athletics for a long time.”
Sidestreet isn’t the only business that could be affected by Duckett’s departure. Stores selling MSU paraphernalia could have trouble clearing No. 8 jerseys from the racks, said Adam Lackey, a retail clerk at Steve & Barry’s University Sportswear, 515 E. Grand River Ave.
“Sales will probably go down,” Lackey said. “Nobody will want to wear a T.J. Duckett jersey for a little while.”
But as a fan, the hospitality business junior said he understands Duckett’s decision, although he disagrees with it.
“Fans lose sight of why players leave early - he had to do what he had to do for his family,” Lackey said. “But I think he should have stayed one more year. He would have really helped the team next season.
“I kind of grew up with him because we were the same year in school. It was cool watching him progress from year to year, and it feels a little premature for him to leave.”
Communication sophomore Emilie Riester not only wishes she could see Duckett take the field again next season, she also said the tailback should have finished his communication degree before leaving.
“I think he made a bad choice,” said Riester, a football season-ticket-holder. “I would say, ‘Stay in school and get a degree.’ Obviously, there’s a lot of promise for money to go to the NFL early, but I would want a degree to fall back on.
“He was such a face for the Spartan football team. Everyone knew T.J. Duckett. I think he’ll be remembered well, but it’ll be a shame that he couldn’t spend an extra year.”
Other fans backed Duckett’s exit.
Marketing senior Shahada Hardwick called the decision “a good move for him personally.”
“He had a pretty good year and the money’s probably calling him, you know?” Hardwick said. “He served his school for three years and football is a contact sport, so you’re only a knee injury away from no career. I definitely understand his decision.
“I mean, when I saw him around campus, he was just a regular student. A regular student with a smile on his face.”
James Jahnke can be reached at jahnkeja@msu.edu.
