Michigan State’s Mel Tucker Admits to ‘Personal Relationship’ With Accuser

Michigan State football head coach Mel Tucker released a statement Monday, one day after he was suspended by the university for allegations of sexual misconduct.

In the two-page statement, released by Tucker's lawyer, he admitted to a "personal relationship" with sexual assault activist Brenda Tracy, who accused the coach of sexual harassment, according to USA Today.

However, Tucker asserted that Tracy's statements were false, and called the university hearing around the issue, scheduled for October, a "sham."

In the statement, he suggested MSU's reaction to this this situation is driven by the university's mishandling of former sports physician Larry Nassar. Nassar served as Michigan State's sports physician before becoming the national medical coordinator for the US national gymnastics team. Nassar was accused by both former Michigan State athletes and former Team USA gymnasts of sexual abuse, resulting in multiple lawsuits against the university.

"The investigation has not been fair or unbiased. 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 in the statement.

In his statement, Tucker claimed that his relationship with Tracy began as a "mutual friendship that grew into an intimate, adult relationship" throughout fall 2021 and winter 2022.

Tucker also addressed Tracy's allegatioons that he made sexual comments and masturbated over the phone, calling it a "mutual, private event between two adults" and added that she did not complain or hang up the phone during the call.

Tucker claimed that the university hearing, scheduled for October 5-6, does not give him a chance to fairly present his case, saying that the hearing process was designed for student infractions, "not to address personal, private acts between adults in which disclosure of the intimate details impact one's reputation and career."