Jim Harbaugh wants 'mutual respect' in MSU rivalry
INDIANAPOLIS — Last year’s Michigan blowout of Michigan State in Ann Arbor was marred by a postgame assault on two U-M players by a group of MSU players in the Michigan Stadium tunnel. Several Spartans were suspended and arrested after attacking Ja’Den McBurrows and Gemon Green while they tried to make their way to the locker room, resulting in injuries to both players.
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Minutes after the incident, Harbaugh made it clear it wasn’t going away. Footage of the unprovoked attack obviously affected the coach and his mood after the game.
“There needs to be accountability,” Harbaugh said. “There needs to be a full, thorough, timely investigation. I can’t imagine that this will not result in criminal charges. The videos are bad. It’s clear what transpired. It seems very open and shut. As they say, watch the tape … An apology will not get the job done in this instance.”
Thursday during Big Ten Media Day in Indianapolis, Harbaugh confirmed he hadn’t gotten one — at least not personally from Michigan State head coach Mel Tucker.
“No,” Harbaugh said when asked if he’d spoken with Tucker since the incident. And asked if the rivalry had gotten “too nasty” and if there was anything either program could do about it, Harbaugh didn’t hesitate.
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“The goal is mutual respect,” Harbaugh said. “Tremendous competition. That’s what we’re striving for. Yes, we have that for Michigan State … a mutual respect. And it is great competition.”
A reporter asked Harbaugh if he thought Michigan State had the same respect for his program.
“That’s unknowable for me to know that,” Harbaugh said.
Tucker, meanwhile, seemed excited about the report they might play Michigan at night this year, saying “we’ll be there. We’ll be there.” He scoffed when asked if he thought the intensity should be “reined in” a bit.
“What do you mean reined in?” he asked. “How do you rein it in? I don’t know how you do that. There’s not a day that’s gone by that I haven’t heard something about that game. I mean, every day of my life I hear about that game. So, I don’t know how you rein that in. It just is what it is.
“From the day I got here, in my initial press conference, I’m not shying away from the challenge of the rivalry. It’s the biggest game of the year for us. And it’s always going to be like that as long as I’m the coach here.”
Michigan and MSU will play Oct. 21 in East Lansing this year.
