Michigan State Athletic Director Alan Haller told suspended football coach Mel Tucker on Monday that he will be fired without compensation for misconduct involving activist and rape survivor Brenda Tracy.
“The notice provides Tucker with seven calendar days to respond and present reasons to me and the interim president as to why he should not be terminated for cause,” Haller said in a statement sent by the school.
Tucker is in the third year of a $95 million, 10-year contract and if he is fired for cause, the school would not have to pay him what’s remaining on his deal.
Haller said the decision does not affect the ongoing investigation into Tracy’s allegations of sexual harassment, which is being handled by the school’s office for civil rights.
Tracy said Tucker sexually harassed her during a phone call in April 2022. Eight months later, Tracy filed a complaint with the school’s Title IX office and the investigation was completed in July. A hearing is scheduled for the week of Oct. 5 to determine if Tucker violated the school’s sexual harassment and exploitation policy and a ruling could take up to 60 days.
Michigan State isn’t waiting that long to make a move.
The 51-year-old Tucker, who said he is estranged from his wife and has two children, said the allegations against him are “completely false.” Tucker insisted that the intimate phone call he had with Tracy was consensual and outside the scope of both Title IX and school policy.
The school has said “unprofessional behavior and not living up to the core values of the department and university” was the reason Tucker was suspended last week.
Tracy is known for her work with college teams, educating athletes about sexual violence. Michigan State paid her $10,000 to share her story with the football team.
The Spartans (2-1) were routed 41-7 by No. 8 Washington on Saturday in Harlon Barnett’s debut as interim coach. Michigan State hosts Maryland (3-0) on Saturday.
SUSPENSIONS: The Southeastern Conference suspended three Florida players and one Tennessee player for their roles in a fight that started on what was supposed to be the last play of their game Saturday night.
The half-game punishments were doled out Monday after video review and consultation between the league office and both universities.
No. 25 Florida will be without right tackle Damieon George, guard Micah Mazzccua and tight end Dante Zanders on Saturday for the first half against Charlotte in Gainesville. Defensive lineman Omarr Norman-Lott will miss the first half of No. 23 Tennessee’s game against UTSA on Saturday in Knoxville.
ARMY: Army has extended the contract of Jeff Monken, who is the second-winningest football coach in school history.
The multiyear extension was announced, three days after the Black Knights won on the road at UTSA.
The new contract runs through the 2027 season and averages more than $2 million per year in salary, according to a person with direct knowledge of the deal.
GEORGIA: Top-ranked Georgia will be without starting right tackle Amarius Mims indefinitely as Kirby Smart says the Bulldogs carry the longest injury list in his eight years as coach.
Smart said that Mims will have surgery for a left ankle sprain suffered in last week’s 24-14 win over South Carolina. Mims is expected to miss at least a few weeks, including Saturday’s game against UAB.
The two-time defending national champion Bulldogs also had running backs Kendall Milton (knee) and Roderick Robinson (high- ankle sprain) suffer injuries against South Carolina.
ALABAMA: Alabama is turning the offensive reins back over to Jalen Milroe, but the messy quarterback situation has been only part of the problem. The offensive line has been bullied at times, and the receivers and running backs haven’t always shined either.
The result for the 13th-ranked Crimson Tide (2-1) have been a sputtering start to the season, including a loss to No. 3 Texas and going more than 40 minutes before managing a touchdown against South Florida. Alabama has fallen from the AP’s top 10 for the first time in eight years.
Send questions/comments to the editors.
