'Off-kilter' MSU loses big to Washington in first game without Tucker - ESPN

In its first game since head coach Mel Tucker was suspended, Michigan State suffered a devastating 41-7 loss at home to Washington.

Interim head coach Harlon Barnett took over on Sunday after Tucker was suspended amid an ongoing investigation into claims that he sexually harassed sexual assault awareness speaker Brenda Tracy.

Barnett said the suspension was abrupt and the week was different than what anyone in the program has had to deal with, but he believes that the team did everything right in moving forward to focus on the game against Washington.

«There were a lot of different things that came about, but it's gonna all settle down this week,» Barnett told reporters after the game. «I got some things in my mind I want to do as far as me coaching and try to normalize us again. Whereas this past week we were off kilter a little bit.»

The Spartans defense gave up 713 yards of offense to Washington, a record for any Michigan State team. Barnett said he didn't realize it was a record, but he's going to remember it and remember everything that took place in this game without excuses for what distractions may or may not have been out there this week for his team.

He recognized the difficulty of the week, but believed his team prepared as best they could for a strong opponent in Washington. He didn't want to focus much on the past or what had happened with Tucker, but rather how he can galvanize the team moving forward and get back some normalcy for the players on the team.

«We are a week away from what happened,» Barnett said. «So, those guys, that's out of their system, we played the game, played a really great team. And so, I think they're ready to go and understand that all of our goals are still in front of us, so