Four Michigan State players have been suspended for their roles in an altercation inside the tunnel at Michigan Stadium that was described Saturday by Wolverines coach Jim Harbaugh as an assault of his players.
Michigan State coach Mel Tucker announced Sunday that linebacker Itayvion Brown, cornerback Khary Crump, safety Angelo Grose and defensive end Zion Young were suspended indefinitely until an investigation of the altercation is concluded.
“The health and safety of our student-athletes, coaches, personnel, and the Spartan community remain our priority,” Tucker said in a statement. “You have my promise that we are committed to fairness, transparency and accountability, and that we will continue to take appropriate action in this matter. Our core values and the responsibility that comes with wearing the State green and white jersey must never be compromised.”
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In the statement, Tucker said the program is working with law enforcement, school leadership at Michigan State and Michigan and the Big Ten Conference to “further evaluate the events in Ann Arbor,” including possible participation by more players and contributing factors.
Michigan State athletic director Alan Haller said in a statement that the players’ actions were “uncharacteristic of our football program and unacceptable.”
Michigan State president Samuel L. Stanley Jr. said: “There is no provocation that could justify the behavior we are seeing on the videos. Rivalries can be intense, but should never be violent.”
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Following Michigan State’s 29-7 loss to Michigan on Saturday, videos emerged of altercations involving players from the two teams in the tunnel leading to the locker rooms at Michigan Stadium. Videos showed players pushing and shoving, and one showed a Michigan player being surrounded by Michigan State players.
Footage of the scuffling pic.twitter.com/cipLWi5RBS
— Matt Charboneau (@mattcharboneau) October 30, 2022
Another video emerged of a Michigan State player swinging a helmet at a Michigan player.
The 2nd Jumping harbaugh was referring to
Just kick them all off or suspend them pic.twitter.com/SWooBiVTLo
— GBP (@GoBluePoole) October 30, 2022
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After the game, Harbaugh said that two Michigan players were “assaulted” and said one player had a nasal injury and possibly a broken nose.
Jim Harbaugh: “Two of our players were assaulted. You saw the one video, the 10 on 1. Pretty bad.” Says one player has a nasal injury, possibly a broken nose. AD Warde Manuel will address with the authorities, Harbaugh says.
— Austin Meek (@byAustinMeek) October 30, 2022
According to ESPN, Michigan athletic director Warde Manuel said after the game that police were investigating the incident.
“The police are also looking into it, because they’ve seen the video and they’re addressing it. We will leave it in their hands, but this is not how we should interact after a game,” Manuel said. “This is not the way another team should grab a player and do what they did, it’s completely and utterly unacceptable. We will let the Big Ten and law enforcement handle it, but this is not what a rivalry should be about.”
This was the second incident this season in the Michigan tunnel, which the home and away teams both use to get to the locker rooms. On Oct. 15, players from Michigan and Penn State got into a shouting match — though it never became physical — in the tunnel at halftime, according to ESPN.
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