Harlon Barnett has not spoken to Mel Tucker since suspension

Originally posted on Spartan Shadows
By Connor Muldowney | Last updated 9/12/23

Mel Tucker was suspended by Michigan State on Sunday and it sounds like he hasn’t spoken to his coaching staff since.

What a 48-hour news cycle it’s been for Michigan State fans. Mel Tucker was revealed to be the subject of a sexual harassment case late on Saturday night, he was suspended on Sunday without pay, and now he’s in the middle of a messy back-and-forth with Brenda Tracy.

On Sunday, about 24 hours after beating Richmond, Michigan State held a press conference to announce that Tucker would be suspended without pay, Harlon Barnett would be the interim coach, and Mark Dantonio would be coming back to help out.

Fast forward to Tuesday and it sounds like no one has heard directly from Tucker. Including the interim head coach.

Barnett says he hasn't spoken with Mel Tucker since Tucker was suspended.

— Graham Couch (@Graham_Couch) September 12, 2023

This is kind of a surprising revelation considering Barnett has been on Tucker’s staff for four years now. You’d think he’d at least extend a positive message for his secondary coach-turned-interim. Words of encouragement or even an apology for putting him in this situation which will undoubtedly raise the stress levels in the locker room.

Nothing.

Apparently Barnett texted with Mel (a new development) but the two haven’t spoken on the phone. Sure, he has a lot on his plate, but at the end of the day, Michigan State football was his life and his staff has basically been his family.

Tucker said in his statement via his attorney on Monday that he’s upset that he can’t be with the team that he loves. This whole situation is keeping him from his team and that really hurt him.

Barnett said that he wants to prove that he can do this job and wants to be the head coach of Michigan State, but not this way. It sounds like he’s determined to take over if and when Mel Tucker is fired. We’ll see if he can prove himself on Saturday with a win over Washington. And hopefully if that happens, he’ll finally hear from Tucker.

This article first appeared on Spartan Shadows and was syndicated with permission.

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