Big Ten Roundup (Sept. 11): Michigan State Suspends Mel Tucker, Dantonio Returning as Associate Head Coach

BLOOMINGTON, Ind. — For a moment on Sunday, it looked like Michigan State had fired coach Mel Tucker following a USA Today report in which rape survivor and activist Brenda Tracy accused him of sexual harassment.

It was soon reported, though, that Tucker has not yet been fired by the University, and instead has been suspended without pay. In his absence, Michigan State secondary coach Harlon Barnett will serve at the interim coach, and former Spartans' football coach Mark Dantonio will be returning to the program as well.

Dantonio will be working for Michigan State as associate head coach, though the specifics of his role have not yet been defined.

Here's everything you need to know in today's Big Ten Roundup:

Michigan State Suspends Mel Tucker

Following the USA Today story on Sunday, there was massive public outcry for the removal of Tucker as Michigan State's head coach.

It appeared those demands had been answered midway through the opening slate of NFL Sunday game, when Brett McMurphy of The Action Network posted that MSU had fired Tucker.

Mel Tucker fired as Michigan State’s coach, sources told @ActionNetworkHQ. Secondary coach Harlon Barnett will be MSU’s interim coach w/former coach Mark Dantonio expected to assist in an undefined role. MSU investigating allegations Tucker sexually harassed activist/rape…
— Brett McMurphy (@Brett_McMurphy) September 10, 2023

However, that was soon refuted by other reporting. Chris Solari of the Detroit Free Press said that Tucker was instead suspended without pay, not fired, like McMurphy claimed. Other reporters (most notably Nicole Auerbach of The Athletic) reaffirmed Solari's reporting that it was a suspension, and not a firing, that took place.

MSU coach Mel Tucker has not been fired, a source told @TheAthletic.

Here’s this from the Detroit Free Press: https://t.co/OFulDzpFX6
— Nicole Auerbach (@NicoleAuerbach) September 10, 2023

The Title IX investigation into the sexual harassment claims levied against Tucker is set to conclude on Oct. 5 and 6, when the hearing for the Michigan State coach is scheduled.

The very concerning and questionable history surrounding sexual assault at Michigan State has been brought up by several media outlets, both local and national, during the past 24 hours.

Most infamously, the school employed Larry Nassar as a campus physician. Nassar sexually abused more than 300 female gymnasts in his role at both Michigan State and with the U.S.A. Gymnastics team. In 2018, he plead guilty to seven counts of criminal sexual conduct, and was sentenced to 40 to 175 years in prison.

An ESPN story in 2018 revealed a concerning culture in East Lansing of sweeping sexual assault allegations under the rug.

"Michigan State officials in 2014 did not notify federal officials that the university had dual Title IX and campus police investigations of Nassar underway, even though federal investigators were on campus that year scrutinizing how MSU dealt with sexual assault allegations," Paula Lavigne and Nicole Noren wrote for ESPN in 2018.

"The Outside the Lines report also found that MSU administrators still have not provided to federal officials all documents related to the Nassar allegations."

This is also extends to the now-returning Dantonio. In 2018, the Detroit Free Press found four cases of sexual assault involving seven different football players for the Spartans under coach Dantonio. No charges were filed on any of the four cases, even though all four were reported to authorities.

And ultimately, the past behavior of the Michigan State athletic department and University leadership ties back to the developing situation with Tucker.

ESPN's Dan Murphy reported on Sunday that the school was made aware of Tracy's complaint against Tucker in December of 2022. MSU leadership did not know the details, but there was no public recognition of the investigation until late Saturday night.

Important distinction on the Mel Tucker suspension after tonight's press conference: MSU's leadership (including Alan Haller) knew there was a complaint made against Mel Tucker in late December. They did not know any details until last night, a school spokeswoman confirmed.
— Dan Murphy (@DanMurphyESPN) September 11, 2023

The full story with the disturbing and troubling allegations against Tucker can be read in USA Today here.

More coverage of the entire situation at Michigan State can be read here on our sister website, Spartan Nation.

Michigan State Suspends Mel Tucker

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