Hidden at the bottom of a release announcing that no NCAA violations were committed during Michigan State’s handling of the Larry Nassar sexual assault investigation was this:
Michigan State and Tom Izzo were implicated last January in a scandal at the university that alleged men’s basketball and football players had sexual misconduct allegations covered up. The allegations included former Michigan State stars Adreian Payne and Keith Appling, who were accused of sexual assault as freshman, as well as Travis Walton, who was alleged to have assaulted a woman in a bar before being allowed to remain with the program as a member of the coaching staff.
Izzo was repeatedly grilled over his handling of the allegations, and there was speculation that he would lose his job over the scandal.