Pete Thamel lays out the potential next steps for Michigan State, Mel Tucker

ESPN’s Pete Thamel laid out the potential next steps in the Mel Tucker situation after the Michigan State head coach was suspended without pay amid a sexual harassment investigation.

A hearing is set for the first week of October and for now, the head coach’s place at the university is in limbo. Brenda Tracy, who accused Tucker of harassment, released a statement via her advocacy group. Right now, both parties have different accounts of their personal relationship.

But Tucker’s suspension without pay could signal the end for the coach, according to Tucker.

“Moving forward, I think there’s been some hints left by each side of this that portend future actions,” Thamel said on College Football Live. “I think the university suspending Mel Tucker without pay is a sign that they potentially could be firing him for cause come early October when there’s a hearing about the alleged sexual harassment allegations.

“As for Tucker, his attorneys and he released a statement yesterday in which he called the investigation a sham.” 

Thamel continued how Tucker disagreed with some facts laid out, particularly publicly. But with the Michigan State coach’s contract, there’s a lot of money at stake, meaning the next few weeks are imperative for both sides.

“He obviously was, you know, disagreeing with some of the facts laid out by the investigation and had strong words for Brenda Tracy and how some of the allegations were laid out against him,” Thamel said. “So it appears like Tucker is now laying out a case. If he does get fired for cause, there’s $80 million essentially on the line. 

“And if he’s fired for cause he could be entitled to none of that. So, there’s a potential lawsuit from Tucker’s side, that his lawyers appear to be setting up for, if indeed as expected, he’s fired for cause in October.”

What’s the future hold for Mel Tucker?

Mel Tucker called out the allegations and said they were completely false.

“Brenda Tracy’s allegations of harassment are completely false,” Tucker said in a statement via Chris Solari of the Detroit Free Press. “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.”

Later in his statement, Tucker wanted to make sure something was “perfectly clear.” He says the phone conversation between him and Tracy was “entirely mutual” and believes it was a “private event” between the two. According to Tucker, Tracy was the one to initiate the conversation, one which took place for over 30 minutes.

On the field, Michigan State has a big matchup against Washington on deck. 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.

Tucker will not be on the sideline, with Harlon Barnett serving as the interim head coach. Mark Dantonio is expected to play a role as well, rejoining the program as an assistant coach with an undefined role.