Suspended MSU coach Mel Tucker releases statement, calls allegations "completely false"
A little under 24 hours after Michigan State University suspended head football coach Mel Tucker for alleged sexual harassment, Tucker has released a statement through his lawyer calling the claim of allegations from sexual misconduct prevention advocate Brenda Tracy, "completely false".
Tucker is being represented by attorney Jennifer Z. Belveal. The statement also called the hearing scheduled for Oct. 5 and 6 a "sham" which is not designed to arrive at the truth of the matter.
In his statement, Tucker once again confirmed that he had a late night conversation over the phone with Tracy, which is at the heart of her allegations.
However, in his version of events, Tucker says that Tracy "initiated the discussion that night, sent me a provocative picture of the two of us together, suggested what she may look like without clothes, and never once during the 36 minutes did she object in any manner, much less hang up the phone."
In USA Today's report, Tucker described the phone call to the investigator as "consensual phone sex" between him and Tracy. He maintained that assertion in his statement.
"While I am saddened by Ms. Tracy's disclosure of the sensitive nature of this call, let me be perfectly clear—it was an entirely mutual, private event between two adults living at opposite ends of the country," Tucker said.
Tucker claims that Tracy gave him "every indication that everything was fine" in the months following the private phone call, saying Tracy even sent him a 'Happy Father's Day' card two months after their conversation that night, and expressing a desire to return to Michigan State.
Tucker also claims that the investigation conducted by a third-party attorney for MSU is not actually a Title IX investigation.
"That's inaccurate," Tucker wrote. "The University admitted there is no Title IX jurisdiction, so the investigation of my private life was relegated to an alleged policy violation."
Tucker said the University's investigation was not fair or unbiased, but a way to get out of paying him the full 10-year, $95 million contract extension he signed in 2021.
"I 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 Nasser taint, or my race or gender," Tucker wrote.
Finally, Tucker expressed heartache over being separated from his football team at Michigan State and not being able to coach them due to his suspension.
"I have been ripped from the Team that I love, without any meaningful opportunity to tell my side of the story other than this press release," Tucker wrote. "I am incredibly proud of the outstanding group of men on the Team and my heart aches to be sidelined."
Tucker's full statement can be read below:
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