September 27th, 2023 at 8:03 PM ^
She said that someone leaked her name to the press which caused her to tell USA Today to run the story with her name in it.
September 27th, 2023 at 8:08 PM ^
The sequence of events has been mind boggling to me and the drip-drip-drip of intentionally vague statements (and lies) from people has made it hard to piece together. I had a post somewhere above to try to create a plausible timeline of events regarding the leaks.
Your version above is not exactly correct (especially the bit about it "turning out" that she was the source of the original story; that was never in doubt; she was identified in the original story as the on the record source).
Anyway, like I said, my theory is above somewhere. I think I'm fairly close.
But to get to the point of your main question, is there someone to corroborate Tracy and her lawyer that MSU was a leak, the answer is USA Today, in a roundabout way. But USA Today never really went on record themselves saying they knew there was a leak that came from MSU, though they seem to heavily imply it.
September 27th, 2023 at 8:50 PM ^
But to get to the point of your main question, is there someone to corroborate Tracy and her lawyer that MSU was a leak, the answer is USA Today, in a roundabout way. But USA Today never really went on record themselves saying they knew there was a leak that came from MSU, though they seem to heavily imply it.
That’s what I having trouble wrapping my head around on one end and articulating on the other. The statements from tracy’s lawyer about the leaks and sources have been ambiguous at best whether intentional or not. The only thing that has been confirmed and verified is that tracy was the source and provided the case documents to the USA Today reporter for the story.
Tracy’s lawyers initial statement implied that someone else leaked the story to USA Today. Then it was came that she was the source and gave the green light, but someone else leaked her name behinds the scenes. That or the who hasn’t been confirmed.
can it or who realistically be verified?
Is there a chance that USA Today just made up the name leak?
September 27th, 2023 at 9:07 PM ^
Is there a chance that USA Today just made up the name leak?
It wouldn't be the first time, I suppose, that even a reputable news organization has violated ethics in a serious way. So, sure, it's possible USA Today is making shit up to trick Tracy into going on the record. But that would shock me and I highly doubt it.
September 28th, 2023 at 11:00 AM ^
We have to remember that the first official story that broke on this was the ESPN article. That article did not name Tracy.
Once the ESPN story dropped, there were apparently people who were naming Tracy as the anonymous victim from the ESPN story and once USA Today heard that, they reached out to Tracy and let her know that she was about to be publicly named. At that point, she authorized USA Today to release the story she collaborated with them on with her as the official source.
So her story (and USA Today’s story) is that they ran their story in order to get ahead of the things and get Tracy’s version out there and “scoop” whoever was going to release Tracy’s name in another story.
September 28th, 2023 at 1:55 PM ^
Once the ESPN story dropped, there were apparently people who were naming Tracy as the anonymous victim from the ESPN story and once USA Today heard that, they reached out to Tracy and let her know that she was about to be publicly named.
ESPN and USA Today stories dropped within minutes of each other in the middle of the night. I don't think ESPN's story was the first shoe to drop. USA Today had already heard from their Network reporters in Michigan about her name being mentioned in connection with the rumors, before the ESPN story came out.
It is possible that once the ESPN story came out she got particularly spooked and called USA Today back to tell them she was officially on the record. That would make the timing start to make a little more sense.
September 28th, 2023 at 3:12 PM ^
Is there a chance that USA Today just made up the name leak?
Clearly this is the work of the "Michigan Blue Wall"!
...or maybe the main stream media boogeyman is to blame!
...or maybe both!
🤔🧐😠
September 27th, 2023 at 8:59 PM ^
As demented as this may sound, I wouldn't put it past the BoT and Haller to have somehow tried to figure in Mel's 2023 season performance in the final judgment. They knew enough for sure when the report was final in July. Not that I agree with that rationale, but lack of info to refute this logic leaves the door open - when dealing with illogical people (and everything at MSU fits the bill), logical thinking people like us are easily confounded with their "logic."
Tracy was going public someday, unless she got an adequate NDA and settlement from both Mel and MSU. This leak blew any chance of that.
After the October hearing, MSU could have easily said - we will take all of this into consideration and make a decision "soon" (as in after the season). Mel shocks UM on October 21st???? Well, maybe if he agrees to a revised deal with less than 20MM buyout we'll let this one pass. Insane? Yes! But nothing MSU has done, with Simon, Engler, etc has made sense.
Consider this - what if this leaked out AFTER 10/21 AND Mel's team somehow shocked UM???? Any chance RCMB would call for his firing????
September 27th, 2023 at 8:50 PM ^
If this does go to trial (Tuck vs. MSU) w/o an NDA settlement, all of the documentation (emails, texts, etc.) from MSU and BoT, except for genuinely limited Attorney-client privilege (discussing legal strategies, pros and cons) will be made public. This drags things well into next year, when a new coach and a bunch of portal transfers are trying to recreate a culture that doesn't include trying to injury Corum at the knee and using helmets to beat people in tunnels.
WTF - why would someone leak in September when the "trial" (Title IX, which is just a hearing not a real trial) was in early October.
Overall, I've been pleased with the UM BoR over the years. I know the Dr. Anderson stuff was a mess but that was more on the Prez (who resigned for other reasons). Both political parties won approval to use public elections to stock the Boards for MSU, UM, WSU - which means whatever the political tide that year (blue wave, red wave, etc.) you get straight-ticket voters who know nothing of the candidates voting these people in. The rest of the state public U's are appointed by the Gov for some period of time.
I'd rather see people be appointed and confirmed by the State Senate after going through some kind of confirmation hearings about their views on higher ed, etc. Sure it could be political but that Senate can't filibuster things.
Other than Bynum, whom I think is a quality person and leader - some of the others are buffoons. How did George Perles last so many years on a BoT????? What next, Dicktonio gets appointed in case of a resignation.
September 27th, 2023 at 9:20 PM ^
WTF - why would someone leak in September when the "trial" (Title IX, which is just a hearing not a real trial) was in early October.
Different possibilities. One, whistle blower. Two, someone trying to hurry up and fire Mel for cause. And why in September? Because in either case they just found out.
But I kind of think it's neither of those. Let's take Tracy's lawyer's draft statement at face value.
Someone "associated" with the BOT (I'm presuming this means it's BOT member but who the eff knows) told an "outside party," i.e., someone not from MSU. The outside party told a local reporter. (Tracy learned this from USA Today when they called her to tell her about it, prompting her to agree to go on the record...for...reasons, apparently. That's another story.)
So the BOT Member has this awesome secret. Some people suck at keeping secrets. This BOT Member just wanted so badly to tell someone, so they tell someone not from MSU. A neighbor, a clerk at Meijer, who knows. Doesn't necessarily occur to the BOT Member that this person will go to the media.
But this outside party now has a secret, and some people suck at keeping secrets...
September 27th, 2023 at 9:04 PM ^
Sheesh. The BoT must open each meeting with a rousing rendition of Yackety Sax.
September 27th, 2023 at 9:12 PM ^
msu public safety police seen here, chasing the BoT member who is suspected of leaking
September 27th, 2023 at 9:49 PM ^
Honestly, who would go work for that athletic department right now? I know the next coach will be well paid, using Tucker's contract as leverage. If I'm a coach candidate, this is the environment I'm seeing. My dirty business could get aired out in public. A trustee could leak sensitive details to get out of paying me. I would run screaming away from that toxic environment.
Obviously the first answer is conduct no dirty business. But this is major college football. Even if the dirty business isn't phone sex, there are always dirty deals. There are backroom deals with donors, looking the other way on drug offenses, preferential treatment of select players, etc. If I'm a candidate, I want nothing to do with that athletic department and board.
September 27th, 2023 at 10:41 PM ^
In three letters or less, "Duh".
September 27th, 2023 at 10:57 PM ^
I read the article, and it seems to say it wasn't actually the board who leaked Tracy's name, in direct contrast with this post's title.
"Someone associated with the board" was the alleged leaker. The possibilities seem to be the school president, the AD, or an employee at OIE (unlikely).
September 27th, 2023 at 11:31 PM ^
A board member is associated with the board. The caterer from the MSU bakery who brings muffins to their meetings is associated with the board. Mel Tucker is associated with the board. We are all potentially associated with the board, depending on whatever the eff Tracy's lawyer meant in her draft statement that she didn't even release.
It does seem reasonable, though, to assume she meant someone within MSU's administration or board, or someone who works closely and directly with the board.
It is also possible, as I've suggested elsewhere, that she doesn't even know who the person is. She heard this fourth hand (local reporter to USA Today--without revealing their source--to Tracy to her lawyer).
Honestly, the more I think about it the more convinced I am she doesn't know who the person actually is. Tracy and her lawyer are letting the MSU Board do an investigation to find the leak when they claim to know the leak? That's so cold.
September 27th, 2023 at 11:06 PM ^
My anus is leaking
September 28th, 2023 at 1:58 AM ^
There is ointment for that
September 28th, 2023 at 11:32 AM ^
Sorry, my condom broke.
September 28th, 2023 at 8:21 AM ^
Someone please tell me Tucker will win this war and MSU will have to pay him that full amount? I really want them to pay for their stupidity. And not have anything in the tank to pay their next coach.
September 28th, 2023 at 10:07 AM ^
Tucker will almost certainly not win. But MSU would have to be COLOSSAL fools to allow a lawsuit to reach Discovery. They’ve proven themselves to be only *moderate* fools.
Tuck will get a “please shut up and go away” settlement. It will almost certainly be more than $10M and less than $80M. Ms. Tracy will likely also get a settlement.
And then MSU has to find a coach. And since they’ve proven themselves capable and willing to pay $100M/10yr, THAT will be the benchmark any prospect starts with. Anyone who can say “I’m a better coach than Mel Tucker” will likely be angling for that deal.
So yeah, MSU fucked themselves here
September 28th, 2023 at 8:58 AM ^
What would make this whole thing even more crazy is if these lawyers are msu fans.
September 28th, 2023 at 9:11 AM ^
SHOW ME THE MONEY!!!!
-Jerry Maguire
September 28th, 2023 at 9:28 AM ^
it's hilarious that with every serious sexual assault issue MSU cannot get out of their own way
September 28th, 2023 at 12:33 PM ^
Its because MSU as a culture does not take sexual assault seriously and never have. Boys will be boys culture forever.
September 28th, 2023 at 9:36 AM ^
Like a tire fire, that $70M has been burning for years, ever since they piled it up in the first place.
MSU seems determined to throw gas on the fire to get Tugger out more quickly, of course.
September 28th, 2023 at 9:41 AM ^
This is the least surprising headline I've seen in awhile
September 28th, 2023 at 10:09 AM ^
Burn it all down
September 28th, 2023 at 10:23 AM ^
I really wish USA Today would "leak the leaker" as I suspect it was AD Haller, based off of nothing other than obvious motive.
If it was Haller and a victim's name was made public solely for the benefit of firing an overpaid and underachieving coach, then it clearly demonstrates what everyone suspects:
MSU has learned nothing from the Larry Nassar travesty and is institutionally corrupt.
September 28th, 2023 at 10:41 AM ^
Haller signed the email, Ron Mexico.
September 28th, 2023 at 11:29 AM ^
I'll never forget going to a Browns/Falcons game and seeing someone with a #7 Mexico jersey, we couldn't stop laughing.
September 28th, 2023 at 10:26 AM ^
If this is true and they have to pay him the $79 million as a result, this is the biggest "SPARTY, NOOOO!!!" ever.
September 28th, 2023 at 11:36 AM ^
Im not sure why I was interested in this case before. Or why this was what jumped the shark for me on this subject. But this will be the last I pay attention to this entire ordeal. Thanks for being here to hear this information, im calling it my Fred talk.
September 28th, 2023 at 12:31 PM ^
Allow me to summarize. The most toxic university leadership in the country
Hahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha
September 28th, 2023 at 1:09 PM ^
I'm curious if anyone knows the answer to this:
As part of the investigation, the final report was only shared with a few individuals. Haller and a few others were made aware of Tucker and Tracey but say they were not given specifics only the names.
After Tracy releases the report and USA Today prints story, Tucker is suspended without pay and then later fired.
The hearing was/is October 5th.
Is the report supposed to stay confidential until the October 5th hearing (is that the correct word)? Sure, Tracy leaked a whole lot of information but isn't the report still supposed to be confidential? After the story, does everyone say, 'oh fuck it,' and just turn it over to the University as a whole?
Can MSU move forward to fire Tucker without officially having the investigation report?
September 28th, 2023 at 2:06 PM ^
Let's assume MSU was telling the truth about not reading the report, per their internal policies.
When USA Today then publishes excerpts from the report, they are certainly allowed to read USA Today. But are they allowed to then go read the entire report from the school's files because the seal is already broken? I think that's your question.
I cannot say this definitively, but I believe they actually always had the right to read the report, they simply chose not to (if they're telling the truth) because of internal policies based on best practices. You definitely are not bound by "best practices." I don't know how binding their internal policies are for this particular practice. But I believe, yes, they essentially were able to say "Oh fuck it" and go read it.
However, even if they still for the sanctity of their internal policy did not read the report yet, we would still be in the same position we are in today. The USA Today article reported on Mel's admitted behaviors which at that point became public. They have since suspended him, sent him notice of his imminent firing, and then fired him for those admitted behaviors, which were public. At no point did he deny any of the admitted behaviors, and in fact even confirmed them by discussing their consensual relationship in his statements.
September 28th, 2023 at 2:12 PM ^
If anything I'd say this gives Brenda Tracy and her legal team means to sue MSU.
MSU. The gift that keeps giving...
Clowns. All of them. Clowns.
September 28th, 2023 at 2:20 PM ^
Because they were bored?
September 29th, 2023 at 7:16 AM ^
With catch phrases like Keep Chopping and Tuck Comin', it's easy to figure it was Mel who was the source of the leak!