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Michigan State football coach Mel Tucker has broken his silence.
Tucker was suspended without pay over the weekend following a report that he was the subject of a Title IX investigation after sexual assault allegations were made against him by sexual assault awareness activist Brenda Tracy.
The 51-year-old Tucker issued a lengthy statement, denying the “completely false” allegations against him.
“Brenda Tracy’s allegations of harassment are completely false,” Tucker wrote in his statement. “The proceedings initiated by Ms. Tracy are devoid of any semblance of fairness for any matter of this importance, and the University’s ‘hearing’ scheduled for October 5-6 is so flawed that there is no other opportunity for the truth to come out.
“While I am saddened by Ms. Tracy’s disclosure of the sensitive nature of this call, let me be perfectly clear — it was an entirely mutual, private event between two adults living at the opposite ends of the country. She initiated the discussion that night, sent me a provocative picture of the two of us together, suggested what she may look like without clothes, and never once during the 36 minutes did she object in any manner, much less hang up the phone.”
Suspended MSU football coach Mel Tucker responds to allegations by Brenda Tracy via his attorney, Jennifer Z. Belveal. pic.twitter.com/eiw0L0CujQ
— Chris Solari (@chrissolari) September 11, 2023
Tucker and Tracy had formed a professional relationship “to fight the culture of sexual violence in sports” and Tracy was even invited to campus three times and served as an honorary captain for the team’s spring game.
We are excited to welcome @brendatracy24 back to campus as our honorary captain for Saturday’s spring game! #SetTheExpectation @STEnonprofit pic.twitter.com/VjLbhM46Zq
— Michigan State Football (@MSU_Football) April 13, 2022
Tucker, who is one of the highest-paid coaches in college sports, has continued to deny the allegation and said that he and Tracy had consensual phone sex.
