re: Michigan State AD issues statement on Mel Tucker

quote:

---

EVERYBODY knew that Mich St would make up some huge lies to get out of that contract.

---

Turns out they didn’t have to.

quote:

---

No reason to settle

---

Universities, corporations, even rich people settle all the time at the slightest hint of a court battle, even when there is no wrongdoing or little wrongdoing. They do this to avoid discovery process, more billable lawyer hours and/or more bad publicity in the event a case goes to trial.

Should Tucker get anything? No. Will he? Probably. They may give him a small fraction of the buyout to go away and not sue. If they don’t, they’ll probably settle with him later after he sues.

Given the sex abuse problems MSU has had, might be worth some money and an NDA to be done with him completely than litigate this. They’re in the Big Ten. They’re not poor. We also don’t know much MSU tried to bury this or if MSU reacted slowly to it. If they did either, that’s more bad press for them. A settlement probably keeps some of that from getting out. It wouldn’t keep the media from filing a Freedom of Information Act to try to dig for more info about what MSU knew and when MSU knew it but it would stop counter-accusations from Tucker if they settle with an NDA.

quote:

---

I refuse to believe Tucker and this woman didn't have some sort of consensual prior relationship of a somewhat intimate manner. He may be a moron, but I doubt she and Tucker were just having some casual conversation about life and he thought that was a good time to multi-task and pull on the ole boat rope. Not to mention the fact that although she was appalled and disgusted, she decided to remain silent and continue the conversation while he just pounded away.

---

Oh she knew. She just decided to be offended months later.

quote:

---

That said, MSU saw this as a gift from the football Gods to get out from under that terrible contract and they are taking full advantage.

---

Yep.

He himself has admitted to doing this. He told her he did on the phone and he told some investigator on the record that he did in fact, do this. So it is not in dispute. Only thing in dispute is if they had any consensual relationship. Problem is, she was getting paid by MSU to be a consultant. While not directly working for him, she was working with the football team, so this is almost a text book work place sexual harassment case. IF they had anything consensual going on, he should have documented it with her and disclosed to the AD or someone else at the University. He did not. The only way this would be more of an open and shut case is if he paid her directly out of football funds. Anyone that has had to sit though a job mandated training knows that you don't even hint about anything like this where you are someone that has the power to control the flow of money to someone. He did. He could cancel her seminars with the football team and hence her ability to get paid. I doubt there will be a settlement unless he has a way to essentially blackmail MSU with the release of damaging non-public information that may or may not be related to this but could be under put under a negotiated gag order.

He will get nothing and like it

At least Curly Hallman got paid for the remaining years on his contract and he cheated on his wife.

If MSU is smart they play hardball with Tucker. No one will have sympathy for him. He's the second black FB coach MSU has had and the AD is black.

If not mistaken once fired all players have 30 days to transfer for free.