{"id":222767,"date":"2023-09-27T19:28:56","date_gmt":"2023-09-27T19:28:56","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/allworldreport.com\/?p=222767"},"modified":"2023-09-27T19:28:56","modified_gmt":"2023-09-27T19:28:56","slug":"michigan-state-fires-coach-mel-tucker-for-bringing-ridicule-to-school-breaching-his-contract","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/allworldreport.com\/sport\/michigan-state-fires-coach-mel-tucker-for-bringing-ridicule-to-school-breaching-his-contract\/","title":{"rendered":"Michigan State fires coach Mel Tucker for bringing ridicule to school, breaching his contract"},"content":{"rendered":"

Michigan State\u00a0fired Mel Tucker on Wednesday, saying the suspended football coach failed to present adequate reasons why he should not be fired for cause after having what he described as consensual phone sex with an activist and rape survivor.<\/p>\n

The school said it terminated what’s left of Tucker’s $95 million, 10-year contract for acknowledging actions that subjected the institution to ridicule, breaching his contract and moral turpitude.<\/p>\n

Brenda Tracy, the activist and rape survivor, said Tucker sexually harassed her during the phone call in April 2022. Several months later, Tracy filed a complaint with the school\u2019s Title IX office.<\/p>\n

Michigan State informed the 51-year-old Tucker that it planned to fire him on Sept. 18 and gave him a week to respond, which he did on Monday.<\/p>\n

\u201cSimply put, Mr. Tucker\u2019s response does not provide any information that refutes or undermines the multiple grounds for termination for cause set forth in the notice,\u201d athletic director Alan Haller said. \u201cInstead, his 25-page response, which includes a 12-page letter from his attorney and a 13-page \u2018expert report,\u2019 provides a litany of excuses for his inappropriate behavior while expressly admitting to the problematic conduct outlined in the notice.\u201d<\/p>\n

Messages seeking comment were left with Tucker’s attorney and agent. He has acknowledged having phone sex with her but\u00a0said it was consensual.<\/p>\n

Michigan State\u2019s investigation was completed in July and a hearing scheduled for next week.<\/p>\n

Attorney Jennifer Belveal said the school knew Tucker acknowledged during the investigation in March that he had had phone sex with Tracy.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe notice, which is entirely premised on information you knew at least seven months ago, if not earlier, now affirms Tucker\u2019s belief that the investigation was never interested in the truth,\u201d she wrote.<\/p>\n

She denied in a statement that Tucker\u2019s actions were acts of moral turpitude — \u201cby any stretch of the imagination\u201d \u2014 at the university that operates in the\u00a0shadow of Larry Nassar\u2019s sexual abuse\u00a0of more than 100 athletes.<\/p>\n

Belveal also cited Tucker\u2019s \u201cserious medical condition\u201d in stating that the embattled coach reserves his right to fully respond to the university\u2019s planned firing when he\u2019s medically cleared.<\/p>\n

Tucker asked for a medical leave for \u201ca serious health condition\u201d while he was suspended and the school denied the request, saying it was \u201cunnecessary,\u201d according to his attorney.<\/p>\n

The school told Tucker he would be fired for cause and without compensation for misconduct with Tracy, whom it considers a vendor because she was once paid to speak with the team, and gave him seven days to respond.<\/p>\n

Tucker signed a $95 million, 10-year contract in November 2021. If the school gets its way, he will lose about $80 million he was due to make through Jan. 15, 2032.<\/p>\n

Tracy\u2019s allegations were made public by USA Today earlier this month, and on the same day that the report was published, Tucker was suspended.<\/p>\n

Tucker, who said he has been estranged from his wife for years and has two children, said the allegations against him are \u201ccompletely false.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI can only conclude that there is an ulterior motive designed to terminate my contract based on some other factor such as a desire to avoid any (Nassar) taint, or my race or gender,\u201d Tucker, who is Black, said in a response his attorney shared earlier this month.<\/p>\n

Tracy is known for her work\u00a0with college teams educating athletes about sexual violence. Michigan State paid her $10,000 to share her story with the football team.<\/p>\n

Tucker\u00a0began his coaching career with Nick Saban as a graduate assistant for the Spartans in 1997. He returned to the school with one of the biggest contracts in college sports after leading Colorado for one season and serving as an assistant coach at Georgia, Alabama and Ohio State.<\/p>\n

Tucker also worked in the NFL, leading the Jacksonville Jaguars as interim coach during the 2011 season.<\/p>\n

He was 20-14 in three-plus seasons at Michigan State, which he led to 11 wins in 2021, and his career record as a college football head coach is 25-21.<\/p>\n

The Spartans (2-2, 0-1 Big Ten) play at Iowa (3-1, 0-1) on Saturday, and will be led by interim coach Harlon Barnett for a third game.<\/p>\n

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