Michigan - MSU tunnel resolution coming soon? And a disturbing report from those sidelines ...
We’re expecting word from the Big Ten soon about ramifications and potential punishment for Michigan State players, with the UMPD police report having been submitted to the Washtenaw County Prosecutor.
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“In collaboration with our law enforcement partners and Michigan State University, UMPD has thoroughly investigated what occurred,” U-M Deputy Chief of Police Melissa Overton said in the statement, The Detroit News and others reported. “The case has been turned over to the Washtenaw County Prosecutor’s Office for review.
“We understand and appreciate your interest in this unfortunate and unusual incident. Consistent with our commitment to transparency and due process, we will not share further information pending the prosecutor’s office review.”
The well-publicized incident involved eight Michigan State players — four suspended the Sunday night after the incident, four others later in the week. One, MSU cornerback Khary Crump, was reportedly seen swinging his helmet at Green — head coach Jim Harbaugh later confirmed Green missed the Rutgers game with a concussion as a result.
Michigan State linebacker/defensive end Jacoby Windmon put his helmet back on and also engaged, per the video, and was suspended. Corner Ja’Den McBurrows, reportedly trying to help his teammate, was seen on video being pulled, pushed, and struck by other MSU players.
As we reported last night on The Fort, our premium message board, sources tell us the Big Ten is expected to release something as soon as today. Disciplinary measures are expected.
Michigan State sideline was “toxic,” witnesses said
Last week, we received a call from a long time sideline worker from another school we’ve known for years. He told us — verbatim — what he apparently told John U. Bacon, too, about what he witnessed on the Michigan State sideline … and it wasn’t pretty.
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The Big Ten worker confirmed he was sending a letter to the Big Ten, and he obviously did. Bacon put the account in print here: Justice Delayed — For All Involved. In bullet form, he noted:
- “Constant complaining to the officials. During the second quarter the line judge comments to me that ‘this is not what I signed up for.’
- “There was an unprecedented amount of trash talk. J.J. McCarthy was running the ball and I heard a MSU staff member yell ‘break his *#$%*ing arm.’ The MSU sideline was still using over the top vulgarity even when there was only one minute left in the game.
- “Usually after the clock hits 0.00 the referees sprint off the field. This game they stayed to break players up on the field. While leaving the field the head referee was confronted by an MSU staff member. The staff member then calls the referee ‘a bitch *** mother #$***’ I have never seen anything like that.
- “Mel Tucker spent the entire game arguing with the officials. He looked very agitated and never accepted the official’s explanation.”
The witness concludes by saying, “I will say it was the most toxic and hate filled sideline I have ever been a part of and it starts with the head coach. The staff and players follow his lead.”
As Bacon concluded, “It’s not clear what the Big Ten is doing with this information, if anything. Obviously, these and other eye-witness accounts should be including in the report. Likewise, if the investigators found Michigan players had taunted the Spartans, and if they engaged in any physical altercations, that should be included too.”
It will all be in the report, of course, including the Michigan State response earlier this week from a lawyer in California in which it alleges Green “started” the altercation.
We can say with certainty that some on the Michigan side are expecting a Big Ten response very soon — perhaps today — given the information the conference has.
We’ll continue to monitor this situation until its conclusion.
