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Mel Tucker formally responds to Michigan State’s plans to fire him for cause

Andrew Olson

By Andrew Olson

Published:

Mel Tucker is fighting Michigan State’s plans to fire him for cause.

Monday marked a deadline for Tucker to formally respond to MSU’s previously announced decision to terminate the head coach for cause. The program says Tucker breached his contractual agreement and violated the conduct clause. Tucker is being accused of sexual harassment by Brenda Tracy.

Foley & Lardner LLP issued the response on Tucker’s behalf. In the 25-page document’s summary, Tucker’s legal representation challenges Michigan State on 5 points.

“Tucker did not breach the Agreement in any capacity, much a less material one,” the first point opens. “He did not engage in unprofessional or unethical behavior or ‘moral turpitude’ by any stretch of the imagination,” the letter from Tucker’s lawyers on Monday states. “In fact, as discussed below, under Michigan law, assault and battery does not even constitute ‘moral turpitude,’ and the flimsy foundation of the university’s finding — a private relationship involving mutual flirting and one instance of consensual phone sex — falls far short of the mark.”

MSU opened an inquiry into Tracy’s allegations in December. A hearing to decide whether Tucker violated university policy is scheduled for October.

Earlier this month, Tucker released a statement calling the allegations completely false and saying the hearing will not allow for the truth to come out. Last week, he released another statement maintaining his contact with Tracy was part of a consensual private relationship. He accuses MSU of having “other motives” to fire him.

Andrew Olson

A former Florida beat reporter, Andrew writes for the Saturday Tradition News Desk.