Editors’ note: This story contains graphic language of a sexual nature.
While the SEC typically lays claim to being the Wild West of coaching scenarios, it’s the Big Ten that has two open jobs by mid-September. Northwestern opened over the summer, and Michigan State signaled its intent to terminate Mel Tucker for cause in a letter earlier this week.
That letter follows an initial suspension without pay, which at the time the school said was pending the results of an October Title IX hearing into claims by sexual violence advocate Brenda Tracy that Tucker acted inappropriately with her, with behavior including flirting, commenting on her looks and masturbating while on the phone with her. Tucker has said that all behavior was consensual. The Spartans contend that is enough to fire him for cause, citing in their letter moral turpitude clauses in his contract and highlighting she was a paid school vendor.
