MSU suspends Tucker amid harassment case
Michigan State football coach Mel Tucker has been suspended without pay while the university completes an investigation into claims that he sexually harassed a prominent sexual assault awareness speaker after she was hired to address the Spartan team.
Athletic director Alan Haller announced Tucker’s interim suspension Sunday night, less than 24 hours after news of the claims against the fourth-year head coach was made public in reports from ESPN and USA Today. Interim university President Teresa Woodruff appeared alongside Haller at a news conference and said she fully supported Haller’s decision.
“The university’s objective has been and remains focused on conducting a fair, thorough and unbiased investigation and allowing the processes to play out,” Haller said.
Brenda Tracy, who operates a nonprofit company that tries to raise awareness about sexual misconduct, especially among college athletes, told university investigators that Tucker sent her gifts, asked if she would date him if he wasn’t married and masturbated while on the phone with her without her consent, according to details reported by USA Today on Sunday. Tucker told investigators he took part in the behavior but that it was consensual.
Haller said longtime Michigan State assistant Harlon Barnett will serve as interim head coach in Tucker’s absence. Former Spartan head coach Mark Dantonio is also returning to the team to serve as an associate head coach starting this week. Dantonio retired in February 2020. devastated the entire locker room.
Dobbins went down five minutes after halftime when he took a short pass in the right flat and was wrestled to the ground by Houston Texans safety M.J. Stewart just 2 yards shy of the end zone. He limped to the sideline before heading to the locker room with his arms draped around trainers to assist him.
Afterward, Baltimore wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. said Dobbins’ injury made his stomach hurt, and inside linebacker Patrick Queen fought off tears when talking about Dobbins.
“You can’t replace a J.K.,” Ravens guard Kevin Zeitler said. “[He’s a] special guy, both football-wise and personality-wise. He helps keep his team moving and all that. So, an absolute gut punch and heartbreaking.” for his conduct after last month’s Women’s World Cup final, which Spain won 1-0 against England.
Later on Sunday, the RFEF confirmed Rubiales’ resignation in a statement and that he would be stepping down as a vice president with UEFA.
His behaviour, which also saw him grabbing his crotch and kissing other players, subsequently led to him being suspended from all football-related activity by FIFA, the sport’s top governing body, for 90 days as it carries out its own investigation.
“I have handed in my resignation to the acting president, Pedro Rocha,” Rubiales confirmed in an open letter published on Sunday.
“I have also informed him that I have done the same with my position at UEFA, so that a replacement for my role as vice president can be sought.