Big Ten football report: Michigan State's ugly behavior comes with consequences
WEST LAFAYETTE – The last weekend in October brought one semi-drama-filled game and another incident inside the tunnel of Michigan Stadium.
▶ And this episode was more serious than what happened when Penn State visited the Big House in early October. Talk of criminal charges. Egregious behavior. Assault. Accountability.
Videos captured on social media following Michigan’s 29-7 victory over rival Michigan State showed two of Jim Harbaugh’s players “assaulted” by a group of Spartans, who punched, kicked and slammed defensive back Ja’Den McBurrows in the tunnel as he walked to the locker room. Gemon Green was the other Michigan player involved and has decided to press charges.
“They were walking up the tunnel together. Can see that in the video,” Harbaugh said during his Monday press conference. “Gemon was punched and then Ja’Den was trying to help. I’ll let the investigation proceed from there. They’ve given all their statements to the police.”
Four MSU players – Tank Brown, Khary Crump, Angelo Grose and Zion Young – were suspended Sunday night until the investigations are over. The police are involved. The Big Ten is involved.
Does this incident lead to the four – or maybe more players – being dismissed from the program?
Michigan Stadium has one tunnel for both teams, along with game-day personnel, and protocols are in place for both teams to exit and enter the field. The school doesn’t recall a fight breaking out.
It’s crowded, emotions are high, and this was a rivalry game where the temperature is raised to a different level. Let’s not blame a tunnel for the behavior of people, regardless of their age and what sport they play.
"We're not here to make any excuses for the behaviors Saturday," MSU coach Mel Tucker said Monday at his weekly press conference. “They are unacceptable.”
But there’s no excuse for what happened and whatever punishment comes down should be severe and have a long-lasting impact. Apologizes are coming from Michigan State but Harbaugh said it won’t be enough to correct the damage inflicted.
“An apology will not get the job done in this instance, there should be serious consequences for the many individuals who are culpable,” Harbaugh said.
FINAL PUSHBig Ten West title at stake as Purdue football embarks on November stretch run
▶ On a lighter note, how in the world of Big Ten weekly honors do Chase Brown and Sydney Brown from Illinois not win the league’s player of the week awards on offense and defense, respectively?
Chase Brown rushed for 149 yards and two touchdowns and Sydney Brown had two interceptions, 1.5 tackles for loss and a team-high six tackles in the win over Nebraska.
But here’s why the Brown brothers didn’t win.
Michigan running back Blake Corum gained 177 yards, his fifth straight 100-yard game, and scored two touchdowns in the win over the Spartans.
And there’s the game Ohio State defensive end J.T. Tuimoloau put together against Penn State. Six tackles, two sacks, three tackles for loss, two interceptions and a forced fumble. He was directly involved in four turnovers that led to 21 points.
The feel-good story of the Browns winning Big Ten Players of the Week will have to wait.
▶ Since early season Big Ten on Big Ten matchups have become the norm, thanks to the wishes of television, here’s how the conference schedule shakes out over Labor Day weekend in 2023:
Aug. 31: Nebraska at Minnesota.
Sept. 2: Ohio State at Indiana, Northwestern at Rutgers.
And poor Penn State. For the eighth straight year and the 13th time in the last 14 seasons, the Nittany Lions begin league play on the road Sept. 16 at Illinois. Why can’t this be fixed?
WHAT TO WATCH FORIowa at Purdue football: 1st and 10
▶ The start times for every Big Ten game on Nov. 12 won’t be known until Saturday night or Sunday morning. It’s another six-day TV window for the conference. Purdue travels to Illinois with the winner gaining the edge in the Big Ten West race.
Power rankings
Ohio State (8-0, 5-0): Receiver Marvin Harrison, Jr., is ready for the NFL. Paging the Chicago Bears. Up next: Saturday at Northwestern, noon (ABC)
Michigan (8-0, 5-0): The last two games against the Scarlet Knights have been decided by a total of 13 points. Look for the margin to grow. Up next: Saturday at Rutgers, 7:30 p.m. (BTN)
Illinois (7-1, 4-1): The Fighting Illini have a sparkling record when leading at halftime since they’ve allowed just 17 total points in the second half. Up next: Saturday vs. Michigan State, 3:30 p.m. (BTN)
Penn State (6-2, 3-2): The Nittany Lions led the Buckeyes 21-16 with 9:26 to play. And then OSU scored 28 straight points. Up next: Saturday at Indiana, 3:30 p.m. (ABC)
Wisconsin (4-4, 2-3): Graham Mertz’s 216.0 passing rating and 12.0 yards per attempt in victories rank the highest in the nation. The problem – the Badgers don’t always win. Up next: Saturday vs. Maryland, noon (BTN)
Purdue (5-3, 3-2): Coming out of the off-week, the Boilermakers still have questions about the health and effectiveness of their secondary. Up next: Saturday vs. Iowa, noon (Fox Sports 1)
Maryland (6-2, 3-2): No turnovers in the last two games. The Terrapins play a real defense this week. Up next: Saturday at Wisconsin, noon (BTN)
Minnesota (5-3, 2-3): Tanner Morgan returns at quarterback. Mo Ibrahim keeps churning out 100-yard games. The Gophers are 5-0 when scoring 30 or more points. The Huskers’ defense keeps the trend going. Up next: Saturday at Nebraska, noon (ESPN2)
Iowa (4-4, 2-3): When not facing Ohio State or Michigan, the Hawkeyes are allowing 7.5 points in the other six games. Your move Jeff Brohm. Up next: Saturday at Purdue, noon (Fox Sports 1)
Michigan State (3-5, 1-4): The Spartans may have torpedoed their season with the postgame incident at Michigan. Up next: Saturday at Illinois, 3:30 p.m. (BTN)
Nebraska (3-5, 2-3): When Casey Thompson went out against Illinois with a hand injury, the Huskers didn’t have a quarterback. Up next: Saturday vs. Minnesota, noon (ESPN2)
Rutgers (4-4, 2-3): Two quarterbacks – Gavin Wimsatt and Noah Vedral - completed 9 of 24 passes against Minnesota. Wimsatt left with an injury, but the results are the same. Up next: Saturday vs. Michigan, 7:30 p.m. (BTN)
Indiana (3-5, 1-4): Is a quarterback change coming for the Hoosiers? Whoever is under center won’t be throwing to receiver Cam Camper, who is lost for the season with a knee injury. Up next: Saturday vs. Penn State, 3:30 p.m. (ABC)
Northwestern (1-7, 1-4): During one second-half drive at Iowa, the Wildcats ran 11 plays and gained 22 yards. Up next: Saturday vs. Ohio State, noon (ABC)
Mike Carmin covers Purdue sports for the Journal & Courier and USA Today Sports Network. Email mcarmin@gannett.com and follow on Twitter and Instagram @carmin_jc
This article originally appeared on Lafayette Journal & Courier: Big Ten football report: Michigan State's ugly behavior Michigan comes with consequences
