9/27/2023 football Edit

Michigan State Football: Mel Tucker Investigation Central

Suspended Michigan State head coach Mel Tucker on Sept. 9, 2023 (© Nick King / USA TODAY NETWOR)

Spartans Illustrated

Staff

Note from the Publisher: Thank you for making Spartans Illustrated your go to source for all things related to MSU Athletics. While the investigation into Mel Tucker is a very important and wide-ranging saga, it shouldn't distract us from our core mission of telling the stories of all Spartan student-athletes and recruits.

To that end, we've created this central depository where we will store all of our coverage about the Mel Tucker investigation. This will allow us to keep the front page of our website mostly focused on the accomplishments of all MSU student-athletes (and recruits) and the amazing things they accomplish. Of course, we will continue to break news, offer commentary, and provide updates on the Mel Tucker investigation as we have done since the very beginning of this story, both here and on our message board.

If you have any questions or tips, please email me at SpartansIllustrated@gmail.com. Stay informed and get free insider access to Spartans Illustrated through football season by using code MSU2023FALL). Thank you for your support.

- David Harns

FEATURED COVERAGE:

Sept. 27 (12:06 p.m.): Michigan State has fired Mel Tucker as its football coach

Michigan State has officially fired Mel Tucker from his job as head coach of the Spartan football program. Harlon Barnett has been named interim head coach, pending approval by the University Board of Trustees during an upcoming October meeting. The move comes after MSU served Tucker notice of intent to terminate his employment agreement for cause last Monday, Sept. 18.

Sept. 25 (11:14 p.m.): Will Tucker be fired on Tuesday? What is happening behind the scenes? How did a lot of this come about?

We’re heading into Sept, 26, the day that Michigan State University has indicated is the day they have the right to fire its football coach, Mel Tucker, and here’s an update on what David Harns knows based on his conversations over the last week or so.

Sept. 19 (3:39 p.m.): Mel Tucker releases statement regarding Michigan State's notice of intent

Suspended Michigan State head coach Mel Tucker released a statement via his attorney Tuesday morning condemning the University's decision to serve him notice of its intent to terminate his employment agreement next Tuesday, Sept. 26.

Sept. 18 (3:38 p.m.): Michigan State has served notice to terminate Mel Tucker as football coach

Michigan State has served notice of intent to Mel Tucker it will be terminating its employment agreement with the head football coach, Spartans Illustrated has learned. Sources have indicated to Spartans Illustrated that MSU Vice President and Athletic Director Alan Haller informed the team that the university has served Tucker notice of intent to terminate the contract for cause during a team meeting on Sept. 18.

Sept. 11 (8:02 p.m.): Brenda Tracy responds to Tucker's statement earlier that day

A few hours after Mel Tucker released his statement, Brenda Tracy responded with her own statement. She calls Tucker's statement "more of the same DARVO (deny, attack, reverse victim and offender), and deflection, victim blaming and lies that I've been dealing with for months."

Sept. 11 (5:00 p.m.): Mel Tucker pushes back, tells his side of the story in statement

For the first time since the investigation became public, Mel Tucker, through his attorney Jennifer Z. Belveal, released a statement. He calls the allegations "completely false" while providing his side of the story.

Sept. 10 (5:00 p.m.) : MSU has suspended Mel Tucker and named Harlon Barnett acting head coach/MSU's Alan Haller, Teresa Woodruff give update on Mel Tucker investigation

Prior to a scheduled press conference, it was reported and confirmed by Spartans Illustrated that Mel Tucker will be suspended during the 5:00 p.m. press conference. At that press conference, Michigan State Vice President and Athletic Director Alan Haller announced that Tucker would be suspended without pay. Secondary coach Harlon Barnett is announced as the acting head coach, while former Spartans head coach Mark Dantonio will join the program as an associate head coach.

Sept. 10 (approx. 12:30 a.m.): Michigan State University investigating Mel Tucker for sexual harassment

In the early morning hours of Sept. 10, it was first reported by ESPN that Michigan State head football coach Mel Tucker was being investigated for sexual harassment. Sources confirmed those reports to Spartans Illustrated. A short while after ESPN's initial report, USA Today provided documents from the Michigan State Office of Institutional Equity, while also divulging the name of the complainant at her discretion. The complainant was identified as well-known rape survivor and advocate, Brenda Tracy, who had a previous working relationship with the Michigan State football program.