Chris Solari

Detroit Free Press

EAST LANSING – Michigan State football coach Mark Dantonio broke nearly a monthlong silence Tuesday, his first comments since three unidentified players and a staff member were suspended as part of an investigation into an alleged sexual assault.

In a statement issued by the university, Dantonio said he will not discuss his program nor team while the three investigations — one criminal, one Title IX and one commissioned by MSU — are ongoing.

Dantonio’s statement reads:

“With spring practice beginning last weekend and preparation for a new season under way, I feel it’s important to reinforce the core values and beliefs that have built and defined this program during my time at MSU.

“Since arriving here 11 years ago, my passion has been to lead a program that fosters a culture of integrity, respect and accountability, both on and off the field. That will never change. I have high standards for the program and expect all of our players and staff to conduct themselves in a manner that reflects the values and principles of Michigan State University. Our goal is to develop young men of character who graduate and make a positive impact on society.

“Regarding the ongoing investigations taking place within our program, the allegations are something we’re extremely concerned about and taking very seriously. We took immediate action by suspending those involved as soon as we were notified of the situation. Our action is separate from the ongoing criminal and administrative investigations. Those processes will determine if a crime has been committed and also if any university policy has been violated.

“(Athletic director) Mark Hollis and the university administration have set forth expectations for this program that I fully support, and we have gone to great lengths to consistently educate all members of the football program on our standards of conduct. I expect all members of the football program to live up to those standards, and I’m doing everything necessary to help throughout this difficult process.

“When the time is appropriate, I will be able to answer questions regarding our program and discuss our team. At this point in time, we have to respect the process of the investigations for everyone involved.”

Some players and assistant coaches tweeted Saturday about the first day of spring workouts and this morning about beginning practice in pads. Dantonio has not allowed any media into practice and has not held his spring-preview news conference, as he did during his first 10 seasons.

An MSU spokesman would not confirm the status of any individual players on Tuesday, and is not planning to release a spring roster nor depth chart.

Dantonio's last public comments prior to Tuesday's statement came on National Signing Day, eight days before the university announced the suspension of the players and staff member on Feb. 9.

The three players who are under investigation are suspended from football activities and have been removed from university housing. The alleged sexual assault took place in January, according to MSU. No other details of the incident have been released.

Michigan State University Police have been investigating the assault and sent their initial findings to Ingham County Prosecutor Carol Siemon on Feb. 16, requesting four arrest warrants — three for the players and another for a university employee for obstructing an investigation, according to a spokesman for Siemon. But Siemon returned the case to MSU Police later in the day for “additional information and evidence.”

The criminal investigation is ongoing, no warrants nor charges have been issued, and there has been no status change since the case was returned to MSU Police by Siemon, a spokesman for the prosecutor said Tuesday.

The university confirmed Feb. 14 that Curtis Blackwell, the football program’s director of college advancement and performance, had been suspended with pay. University spokesman Jason Cody said he could not release details nor circumstances surrounding the suspension.

MSU has retained Detroit law firm Jones Day to investigate the football program. The university also has outsourced the Title IX investigation to Ann Arbor-based Rebecca Veidlinger, who previously served as head of MSU’s Office for Institutional Equity and interim deputy Title IX coordinator. She told the Free Press she cannot comment on the Title IX investigation nor offer a timeline for its conclusion.

MSU president Simon: 'No culture of tolerance of sexual assault'

Contact Chris Solari:csolari@freepress.com. Follow him on Twitter@chrissolari. Download our Spartans Xtra app for free onAppleandAndroiddevices!