Michigan State’s Tom Izzo speaks out about Spartan football situation: ‘Stay the course, stick together’

East Lansing, Mich. – Michigan State’s biggest and most noteworthy football fan – Tom Izzo – made his first comments on the Mel Tucker situation on Monday, prior to the first day of Spartan basketball practice, calling for Michigan State fans and players to stick together. 

“My message to everybody is stay the course,” Izzo said, when asked about the Tucker scandal during a basketball press conference on Monday, “and grasp arms and stick together.”

It’s been more than two weeks since Michigan State’s football program was rocked by allegations of sexual misconduct against Tucker. He was suspended without pay on Sept. 10 and was served notice last week that the university intends to fire him this week.

Tucker’s attorneys responded on Monday, issuing a statement that read, in part, that Tucker “did not engage in unprofessional or unethical behavior or ‘moral turpitude’ by any stretch of the imagination,” and criticizes the university for moving forward “without any meaningful review of the facts.”

Tucker entered this season in the second year of a 10-year, $95 million contract. 

Izzo has been a strong supporter of every football coach who has held the post since Izzo became head basketball coach in 1995, and his support of Tucker has been no different.

Izzo didn’t mention Tucker by name on Monday, and said: “I unfortunately don’t know probably half as much as most of you think I know,” Izzo said. “Everybody thinks, when you’ve been somewhere a hundred years, that you know where all the bodies are buried and what’s happened and what’s going on and who’s doing what. I don’t. 

“I feel for those players. I feel for the staff over there. It’s been dealt a tough hand, but I also thought there were some encouraging things (from the football team) on Saturday.”

Izzo complemented Michigan State football fans for their response since the allegations became public. 

“I rode around the tailgates in the last three weeks and I loved the pregame stuff here as I went around,” Izzo said. “I enjoyed the people. I’m really proud of the fans. We’ve been through a lot. But we’ve been through a lot in the past, too. Spartans are resilient. I think we are rallying behind. For that, I thank all the fans out there. I thank the staff and the players for hanging in there.

“What I know is I’m supporting that football team because it’s still my favorite sport. I will not miss a game that I can’t miss. If I can go on the road with them, I’m going on the road.”

Izzo has won 686 games at Michigan State, 10 Big Ten regular season titles and has taken eight Spartan teams to the Final Four. But he has always claimed that Michigan State is a football school.

“To have a successful athletic department, you need a successful football team,” he said. “But in saying that, I went to the soccer game the other night; we beat Indiana. I watched our volleyball team beat Michigan. I’ve watched the growth of our wrestling program. Our women’s soccer team is back in the Top 25. 

“If you read anything about hockey, I like looking over at his office because there’s heat coming off it. The guy is doing a fantastic job. 

“You know what? I’m going to be a full supporter of Harlon (Barnett) and Alan (Haller) and we are going to do what we do, man. We’re going to fight through this and there are going to be a lot of positive things that happen.”

Izzo was asked if it’s been requested that he speak to the Michigan State football team.

“No, I haven’t,” he said. “They’ve got football coaches over there doing their job. I’ve talked to those guys. 

“I would tell them all to stick together, fight the fight, let’s grow and get better. I’m excited that Harlon gets a chance, here, and hopefully we can move forward.

“Some of you think it’s all b.s., but it’s not because I’ve been through some things here that trump all this. And guess what? Still standing. Learned from it, got better from it, going to get better from it and will continue to learn and grow, and that’s what it’s all about.”

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