Brenda Tracy responds to Mel Tucker's statement via social media

Brenda Tracy has responded to Michigan State head coach Mel Tucker’s statement on the investigation regarding the sexual harassment claims Tracy has accused Tucker of.

“This is just more of the same DARVO, deflection, victim blaming and lies that I’ve been dealing with now for months,” Tracy wrote on social media. “Coach Tucker has been delaying and trying to stop the investigative process since the beginning. He can’t afford to go to a hearing that determines credibility of the participating parties.

“I believe this statement is his way of getting out of participating in the hearing. October 5th and 6th I will be present for the hearing and make myself available for cross examination by his attorney Jennifer Belveal. I invite him to do the same.”

Tracy, a high-profile anti-sexual violence advocate and rape survivor, has made a career of speaking to collegiate athletes, has accused Tucker of repeatedly making sexual comments and also masturbating during a phone call on April 28, 2022.

On Monday, Tucker called Tracy’s claims “completely false,” and called the upcoming hearing on the matter, “so flawed that there is no other opportunity for the truth to come out.” Later in the statement, he admitted to having a late-night, intimate conversation with Tracy, “had nothing to do with the University and was outside of the scope of Title IX or any University policy.”

Louisiana State Journal sports columnist Graham Cough joined On3’s Andy Staples and did not sugarcoat things regarding Tucker’s future in East Lansing, saying that there is “no chance,” that Michigan State can move forward with him as headman and that he, “think enough is there that he’s been in breach of contract.”

As a program, Michigan State has a huge matchup against Washington up next. Both teams have a 2-0 record but the Huskies are considered the No. 8 team in the country, per the latest AP poll. The Spartans will be looking for revenge following last season’s 11-point loss in Seattle, but with everything going on around them — getting the team to focus on the task at hand is easier said than done.

Of course, Tucker will not be on the sideline for the matchup, as Harlon Barnett will be serving as the interim head coach for the time being. Mark Dantonio is expected to play an important role with the team as well, rejoining the program as an assistant coach with an undefined role.