Mel Tucker's stunning rise to prominence at Michigan State University seemed to end with this w

Two years ago, on a gray and rainy October day, Michigan State overwhelmed Michigan 37-33 in front of a raging Spartan Stadium Crown. This moved the Spartans to 8-0 on the season, and coach Mel Tucker to 2-0 as their coach against their nemesis.

MSU quickly soared to #3 in the national rankings, and Tucker would receive a massive 10-year, $95 million contract, fearing that LSU or someone else would come to steal the Spartans' coaching genius, as they once did with Nick Saban.

Tucker succeeded. Big money and momentum.

Since then, he has gone 10-9 on the field. Off the field, the reality is even worse.

On Sunday, he was suspended without pay pending the conclusion of aTitle IX investigation into allegations that he sexually harassed Brenda Tracy.

The decision was made with Tracy's consent and hours after USA Today reported the details of her allegations and subsequent investigation. The behavior, which Tucker described as "consensual intimacy," came to light.

Even if Tucker, who is 51, married, and has children, is proven correct, the details are shameful and the relationship completely inappropriate.

The hearing is scheduled for October 5-6.

It is almost unimaginable that Tucker would coach one more game for the Spartans.

In terms of his position at MSU, the hearing will do no more than determine how much of the $77 million he will receive from the school--his contract includes a provision that if he engages in "conduct that, in the reasonable judgment of the University, would bring public scorn, contempt, or ridicule upon the University." There is a clause that makes the contract null and void, so there is a possibility of zero.

Now, ridicule is everywhere; MSU hastily suspended him without pay and held a clumsy press conference with little explanation of why. They cited "progress," but the only progress they made was in revealing details.

ESPN later reported that athletic director Alan Haller and other university administrators knew that Tucker was under investigation but had no specifics because of the system in place.

Once they read about it in USA Today, they suspended him.

So unless it was a complete false accusation, which seems unlikely from the details available, MSU parted ways with a man they believed 20 months ago would be football's long-term savior.

College coaches are adept at finding outrageous ways to ruin their careers.

By that standard, Tucker is a likely Hall of Famer.

Early in the season, the success of transfer running back Kenneth Walker IV somehow propelled the unknown former University of Wisconsin defensive backs and assistant coach to the top of the college pay scale, and his nearly nine-figure contract reset the coaching market.

Tucker had come to MSU after a 5-7 season at Colorado State, where the Spartans were forced to scramble to find a coach after Mark Dantonio's retirement. In his first year on the job, Tucker went 2-5 in a cobbled-together 2020 season.

And so an 8-0 start was made. But that was just the start. Since then, he is just 5-10 against Power Five opponents, and his recruiting -- via both the portal and the high school ranks -- has dried up; MSU is 2-0, but questions are everywhere. Tucker's job security was based largely on the idea that Michigan State could not afford to get rid of him.

Now they may not have to pay anything.

It is not clear what Tucker was thinking when he began his relationship with Tracy or after he was hit with the harassment allegations.

According to a USA Today report, Tucker wrote to investigators, "I am not proud of my judgment, and it is hard to forgive myself for getting into this situation, but I am not a cheater by any definition."

Did he think the details would remain hidden, or was he just hoping to win the trial on October 5 and somehow survive? As recently as August, when questioned about an alleged hazing incident at Northwestern, he boasted that MSU's "culture is very strong."

At that point, few knew of the allegations against Tucker. This included MSU's administration. Now the details have come to light, and it appears that Mel Tucker also climbed as well as fell.