Mel Tucker says Michigan State pulled ‘about-face’ in investigation, ‘different motives at play’ to fire him
Despite Mel Tucker denying all claims that he sexually harassed a rape survivor and assault consciousness speaker, Michigan State University (MSU) says it intends to fire him for trigger.
However, the football coach says that “other motives are at play,” and he’s “disappointed — but not surprised” by the college’s resolution.
“Let’s be clear. I don’t believe MSU plans to fire me because I admitted to an entirely consensual, private relationship with another adult who gave one presentation at MSU, at my behest, over two years ago,” Tucker wrote Tuesday in a lengthy statement.
Tucker says the college did an “about-face,” understanding in regards to the causes it intends to fire him for trigger since at least March. But the college determined that the grounds of the criticism warranted termination as soon as the knowledge was leaked.
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Michigan State Spartans head coach Mel Tucker speaks throughout the Big Ten Conference Media Days at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis on July 26, 2023. (James Black/Icon Sportswire by way of Getty Images)
“MSU is punishing me for Ms. [Brenda] Tracy’s leak, which violated MSU’s rules regarding confidentiality of the investigation,” Tucker wrote.
Tucker additionally famous that he could be suspended as an “interim measure” and “while the investigation continues,” however the faculty decided to terminate him “with no new information.” MSU is “sanctimoniously and illogically claiming this action has no impact on the ongoing investigation,” says Tucker.
Tucker said Michigan State “ignored” his issues that particulars of the investigation could be leaked, however the faculty employed an out of doors agency to examine leaks relating to Tracy.
“So when I complain, nothing happens; when she complains, MSU acts? This double standard reflects the bias against me throughout this process” he stated.
Tucker additionally stated the college despatched him the discover to terminate “just days after…requesting a medical leave…for a serious health condition.”
Michigan State coach Mel Tucker walks the sideline throughout the second half of the sport in opposition to the Richmond Spiders at Spartan Stadium in East Lansing, Michigan, on Sept. 9, 2023. (AP Photo/Al Goldis)
Again sustaining his innocence, Tucker stated he might “only conclude that MSU does not care about my rights, the truth, or its future liability for policing its employees’ private lives.”
“MSU was supposedly going to let that flawed process play out before deciding what to do, but has now reneged on even that… I look forward to one day obtaining discovery against MSU, including the Trustees and the Athletic Department, to see what they really knew and said about this matter, as well as their motives in handling the entire investigative process,” he stated. “MSU now claims that after having already terminated my employment, it is committed to completing the “formal grievance course of” — a process that expressly calls for confidentiality (which MSU publicly acknowledged failing to provide) — to determine if I violated any school policy. The public can decide if any of this rings true or fair.”
Michigan State Spartans head coach Mel Tucker congratulates his workforce as they arrive off the sector throughout the sport in opposition to the Richmond Spiders at Spartan Stadium in East Lansing, Michigan, on Sept. 9, 2023. (Adam Ruff/Icon Sportswire by way of Getty Images)
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Tucker is owed $79 million on the 10-year contract he signed in 2021, so firing him for trigger will save the college all of that cash.