Global Courant
Mel Tucker’s attorney said Monday that the state of Michigan has no reason to do so fire his suspended football coach after Tucker admitted to having phone sex with an activist and rape survivor because he had not “behaved unprofessionally or unethically” or violated his contract.
Attorney Jennifer Belveal denied in a statement that Tucker’s actions were acts of moral turpitude — “by any stretch of the imagination” — at the university, which operates in the shadow of Larry Nassar’s abuse of more than 100 athletes. Belveal also cited Tucker’s “serious medical condition,” saying the embattled coach reserves the right to fully comment on the university’s planned dismissal once he is medically cleared.
Michigan State informed Tucker last week that it planned to fire him, potentially costing him about $80 million.
Activist and rape survivor Brenda Tracy said Tucker sexually harassed her during a phone call in April 2022. Several months later, Tracy filed a complaint with the school’s Title IX office. The investigation was completed in July.
The school told Tucker he would be terminated for cause and without compensation for misconduct against Tracy, whom it considers a salesman because she was once paid to speak to the team, and gave him seven days to respond.
“We sincerely hope that the university will take them seriously, if not because it cares about Tucker’s rights, then because it cares about the limitless liability it will face for the private lives of its thousands of employees and faculty,” Belveal wrote.
Michigan State spokeswoman Emily Guerrant said Monday that the school will review Tucker’s response.
Tucker signed a 10-year, $95 million contract in November 2021. If the school has its way, it will lose about $80 million through January 15, 2032.
Michigan State athletic director Alan Haller has said the decision to fire Tucker does not affect the ongoing investigation into Tracy’s sexual harassment allegations.
A hearing is scheduled for the week of Oct. 5 to determine whether Tucker violated the school’s sexual harassment and exploitation policy. A ruling can take up to 60 days.
Tracy’s allegations were made public by USA Today earlier this month and on the same day the report was published, Tucker was suspended.
“The university’s notice adopts Brenda Tracy’s allegations without any meaningful review of the facts,” Belveal wrote. “First, Tucker did not breach the agreement in any capacity, let alone materially. He did not exhibit unprofessional or unethical conduct or “moral turpitude” in any way.
“In fact, assault and battery do not even constitute ‘moral turpitude,’ and the weak basis of the university’s finding – a private relationship involving mutual flirting and one instance of consensual phone sex – falls far short.”
Tucker, 51, who said he is estranged from his wife and has two children, has said the allegations against him are baseless. “Completely untrue.” Tucker maintained that the intimate phone conversation he had with Tracy was consensual and outside the scope of Title IX and school policy.
However, the school said the actions Tucker acknowledged were unprofessional and unethical.
Michigan State told Tucker that he had been fired for “violations” of his contract and because he had “engaged in conduct constituting moral turpitude or which, in the judgment of the university, would tend to constitute public disrespect, contempt or to bring ridicule to the university.’
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 (2-2, 0-1 Big Ten) have lost their last two games without Tucker at home by a combined score of 72-16 against then-No. 8 Washington and Maryland.
Michigan State plays against Iowa (3-1, 0-1) on Saturday.
Tucker began his coaching career under Nick Saban as a graduate assistant for the Spartans in 1997. He returned to the school with one of the largest contracts in college sports after leading Colorado for one season and serving as an assistant coach at Georgia, Alabama and Ohio. Stands.
Tucker also worked in the NFL, leading the Jacksonville Jaguars as interim coach during the 2011 season.
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