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Mel Tucker reportedly suspended by MSU, Harlon Barnett named interim HC

What a flurry of a news day.

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Mel Tucker
© Nick King/Lansing State Journal / USA TODAY NETWORK

Things work quickly when scandals become public knowledge and Michigan State football will reportedly move on from Mel Tucker.

Boy, have things ever worked quickly in this Michigan State football saga regarding Mel Tucker.

According to a report from Brett McMurphy on Sunday afternoon, just about an hour before a press conference was scheduled by the university, Tucker has been fired.

It’s wild to think that Tucker was on the sidelines on Saturday, celebrating a blowout win over Richmond and looking ahead to a big matchup with Washington, but news broke after midnight about his involvement in a sexual harassment case. That has led to Michigan State speeding up the timeline regarding his future.

Now the Spartans will be looking for a new coach after it sounds like Harlon Barnett will be named the interim. This is just a tough situation for everyone involved and it puts some pressure on the entire remaining coaching staff and the players.

Barnett has been with the staff since 2020 when Tucker was hired and he was brought back after spending time with Florida State. He was originally with Mark Dantonio’s staff and helped create the ‘No Fly Zone’ in 2013.

Tucker’s career ends at Michigan State with a 20-14 record.

If the rumors are true and Dantonio will be joining Barnett’s staff, it will feel like the old Spartans all over again. And that’s not necessarily a bad thing for the rest of the season as the veteran coaches will hold everything together. Barnett and Dantonio working together again is a great move for the program.

Unfortunately, the Tucker era has fizzled out over an issue he had been preaching to his team to avoid when he got to campus in 2020. Just a sad situation.

Keep it posted here as we update you following the press conference at 5 p.m. ET.

UPDATE: Tucker has been suspended until the investigation concludes. Belief is that he will be fired following that.

Writer, co-owner of Spartan Shadows. Michigan State and college football expert at FanSided and formerly of The Detroit News. Expert on all things Michigan State. Connor Muldowney has written about Michigan State since graduating from the university with a degree in journalism back in 2013. Ten years of experience as a Michigan State writer/reporter.

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