Smith follows former head coach Mel Tucker, who was fired in September after an investigation into sexual harassment.

“Today is an exciting day for Michigan State as we welcome Jonathan Smith, wife Candice, and children Robert, Bella and Charles to our Spartan family,” Michigan State athletics director Alan Haller stated in a release. “Jonathan has a proven track record of success, building the Oregon State program from the ground up by implementing a plan resulting in sustained historic success for the Beavers. He’s been a part of championship staffs, coached in the College Football playoff, and understands what’s required to be successful at the highest level, learning from some of the game’s most successful coaches.”

PODCAST: Week 13 Preview: Rivalry Week is here

Smith has led Oregon State to an 8-4 record this season. The Beavers are one of two teams left in the PAC-12 Conference as part of the latest round of conference realignment.

Smith was named 2022 Pac-12 Co-Coach of the Year. He’s compiled a 25-23 record in over three seasons at Oregon State.

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Where does Michigan State turn after this? We discuss in today’s episode.

The post It Was Always Going to End This Way for Mel Tucker appeared first on Saturday Glory.

The Spartans athletic department terminated Tucker’s contract for cause, according to multiple reports. According to Adam Rittenberg of ESPN, Michigan State athletics director Alan Haller sent Tucker a termination letter on Wednesday. 

“Simply put, the Response does not provide any information that refutes or undermines the multiple grounds for termination for cause set forth in the Notice,” Haller stated in the letter. “Instead, the 25-page Response, which includes a 12-page letter from your attorney and a 13-page “expert report,” provides a litany of excuses for your inappropriate behavior while expressly admitting to the problematic conduct outlined in the Notice.” 

Brenda Tracy, a rape survivor and activist, filed a complaint in December 2022 that outlines alleged phone sex conversations that she claims to have been nonconsensual. 

Tucker was suspended without pay Sept. 10 when details became uncovered that he is the subject of an ongoing university sexual harassment investigation. 

According to Pete Thamel of ESPN, Tucker responded Monday to Michigan State’s written letter originally outlining his impending firing for cause and claimed “the university adopted the allegations against Tucker ‘without any meaningful review of the facts.’” 

According to Thamel, Tucker’s response from his lawyers stated that “[Tucker] did not engage in unprofessional or unethical behavior or ‘moral turpitutde’ by any stretch of the imagination,” and that “under Michigan law, assault and battery does not even constitute ‘moral turpitude,’ and the flimsy foundation of the university’s finding – a private relationship involving mutual flirting and one instance of consensual phone sex – falls far short of the mark.” 

“Given that your Response did not demonstrate any reason not to terminate based upon the grounds stated in the Notice, the University terminates the Agreement for cause pursuant to the Early Termination Provision effective September 27, 2023,” Haller stated in the letter. 

According to Nicole Auerbach of The Athletic, Michigan State players have 30 days to decide whether or not to enter the transfer portal. 

Secondary coach Harlon Barnett has taken over interim head coaching duties while former head coach Mark Dantonio became an associated head coach. 

The post Reports: Michigan State officially fires Tucker after investigation into sexual harassment appeared first on Saturday Glory.

Week 3 presents a slate of games that appears interesting, especially for ranked teams on the road. Eight ranked programs are on the road this week including four of the top-10.  

No. 1 Georgia hosts South Carolina in a Southeastern Conference matchup. The Bulldogs are already 2-0 behind 577 passing yards and three touchdowns from quarterback Carson Beck, while the Gamecocks are led by Spencer Rattler for a second-straight season.  

Here are several games to watch this week.  

No. 3 Florida State at Boston College  

The Seminoles are off to one of the hottest starts in college football propelling themselves to No. 3 in the latest Associated Press Top 25, thanks in large part to their Week 1 victory over then-No. 5 LSU.  

Florida State quarterback Jordan Travis has had back-to-back games of at least 175 passing yards and two touchdowns. The sixth-year gunslinger has also had his legs involved on the ground, rushing for at least 20 yards in both outings this season. 

While the Seminoles have an eight-game winning streak which is the longest in the Atlantic Coast Conference, Boston College enters with a 1-1 record. 

Florida State head coach Mike Norvell said the Seminoles can appreciate their surge up to No. 3 in the poll, their highest ranking since 2017, but there is still more work to do in order to truly embrace it all.  

“There is an appreciation for where we’ve come because I watch our players work. I watch what they put into it. I see how hard our coaches coach. I see the program-wide investment to see guys believe, get better and then you obviously respond to the situations that we have found ourselves in,” Norvell said. “Oh, somebody says that we’re highly rated or highly ranked, whatever, or not. None of that matters. It’s about what we are willing to do when we show up and when we go to work. I believe in this team, I believe in this team for what they’ve been through. I believe in this team for the guys that have said yes to come be a part of it and the challenges that are presented to them when they were making that choice.”  

No. 8 Washington at Michigan State 

A matchup between future conference members of the Big Ten is on tap in East Lansing, Michigan, this Saturday. 

The No. 8 Huskies enter 2-0 behind strong quarterback outings from Michael Penix Jr. Penix currently leads the NCAA in total offense with an average of 434 yards per game. 

Washington has outscored its two opponents 99-29 through the first two games. The strengths for the Huskies remain in the passing game, and receiver Rome Odunze leads the team with 239 receiving yards. 

Michigan State will be without head coach Mel Tucker, who is suspended without pay as he is subject of an ongoing sexual harassment investigation. 

“I think the thing that we’ve just focused on, it’s our season theme, is us versus us and just focusing on what we’re in charge of, what we control,” Washington head coach Kalen DeBoer said. “We know we’re going to go out there. It’s going to be a hostile environment and I think anytime there’s strife and things like that it has an effect for teams at times to pull them closer together, and so I think without a doubt in my mind they’re going to come out ready to rip and play well.”  

Wyoming at No. 4 Texas  

It’s all about trust for Texas.  

The Longhorns are one of the several AP Top 10 teams at home this week, and they will do so defending their new positioning in the rankings.  

Quinn Ewers and Texas prevailed over then-No. 3 Alabama last week, besting the Crimson Tide 34-24. Ewers claimed a number of national awards for his performance as he threw for 349 yards and three touchdowns.  

Wyoming enters this week’s bout 2-0 behind quarterback Andrew Peasley. The Cowboys also lead the Mountain West Conference in sacks averaging 3.5 per game. 

Texas head coach Steve Sarkisian said the Longhorns have “aspirations of being champions this year,” and they’re off to a hot start on their way to possibly claiming a Big 12 title and more. 

“We have an adage, trust equals time plus consistency. And so it takes time to earn trust,” Sarkisian said. “But you also have to be consistent, whether you’re a person, a staff, whatever you are, so that they can feel what it looks like over and over and over. It’s hard to trust somebody when two days you do something one way then the third day, you totally contradict yourself. And so we’ve tried to be really consistent with our messaging, and we knew over time as our program grew that we could earn more trust along the way.” 

The post Preview Thursday: Week 3 appeared first on Saturday Glory.

Also, is Texas back? Was Texas ever gone or were they simply playing to the realities of their situation in the late 2010s and early 2020s?

The post Mel Tucker Speaks for the First Time appeared first on Saturday Glory.

Also, after having some time to think things over, Garrett has much more criticism for Michigan State than he did after the original accusations against Mel Tucker came to light.

The post Is the Nick Saban Era at Alabama Almost Over? appeared first on Saturday Glory.

Michigan State announced Sunday it has suspended head coach Mel Tucker without pay as he is the subject of an ongoing university sexual harassment investigation. 

Spartans athletic director Alan Haller and interim president Teresa Woodruff made the announcement after a USA Today report Sunday revealed a filed complaint by Brenda Tracy was investigated by Michigan State which hired a Title IX attorney and concluded its investigation July 25. Tracy is a rape survivor and activist. 

A formal hearing is scheduled “to determine whether Tucker violated the school’s policy banning sexual harassment and exploitation” on Oct. 5-6, according to USA Today.  

Haller said the university’s investigation is still ongoing. 

“As there have been new developments before the hearing and with the best interests of everyone including student-athletes and the university community in mind I have suspended Mel Tucker without pay as an additional interim measure while the investigation continues,” Haller said. “I made this decision with the support of university leadership.” 

Secondary coach Harlon Barnett will have interim head coaching duties, and former head coach Mark Dantonio will become an associate head coach, according to Michigan State. 

Tucker signed a 10-year, $95 million contract extension in November 2021. He first became head coach of the Spartans prior to the 2020 season. 

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Also, Alabama sure looks like it has a QB problem. Can it be fixed during the season? What is the Crimson Tide’s ceiling?

The SEC has struggled in the non-conference schedule, but they’re not alone.

And finally, the Sunday Stiffarm Trophy Update. Who would win the Heisman if it was given out today?

The post Michigan State Has a Mel Tucker Problem appeared first on Saturday Glory.