Rivalry talk: Mel Tucker believes “other motives” at play in MSU firing

Yesterday, Michigan State University announced its intent to fire Mel Tucker, the school’s 4th-year head football coach, with cause due to an ongoing investigation into the sexual harassment of Brenda Tracy. Today, it was confirmed that MSU is not able to officially fire Tucker just yet — the Spartans’ head coach then released a new statement, claiming that “other motives” are at play with his firing from Michigan State.

Mel Tucker claims Michigan State University has “other motives” at play in his firing

Things are heating up when it comes to Mel Tucker and Michigan State University, who are about to be locked into a legal battle over his firing, which will save the school around $80 million. Mel Tucker, who earned his massive contract back in 2021, when Michigan State went 11-2, appears to believe that MSU is using Brenda Tracy’s sexual harassment claim against him in hopes of getting out of paying him this ridiculous amount of money.

Earlier today, he released his second statement — the first being a statement regarding Brenda Tracy’s claims against him, while this one was more geared towards Michigan State University.

“I don’t believe MSU plans to fire me because I admitted to an entirely consensual, private relationship with another adult who gave one presentation at MSU, at my behest, over two years ago,” Mel Tucker wrote in his statement. “A cursory reading of the facts and timeline should cause any fair-minded person to conclude that other motives are at play.”

Below is the full statement from MSU’s 4th-year head football coach, via Nichole Auerbach of The Athletic and NBC Sports.

NEW: Mel Tucker has released the following statement, a day after MSU announced its intention to fire him for cause: pic.twitter.com/4edFFkNg5E

— Nicole Auerbach (@NicoleAuerbach) September 19, 2023

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