By Pierson VanGorp
In 2021, Michigan State defeated Michigan 37-33 in a back-and-forth battle. This year’s matchup was chippy because of last year’s matchup and no one expected what happened after the game ended and the brawl that would ensue.
The game itself was competitive for the first half, as Michigan State led most of the first quarter. Michigan consistently settled for field goals but their defense only gave up 48 total yards in the second half to help defeat the Spartans 29-7. Towards the end of the game, things started to get chippy and a fight almost broke out on the field. Nothing happened on the field and it seemed like Michigan would celebrate their victory and Michigan State would head to the locker room. As the Spartans headed to the locker room, the situation turned violent in the Michigan tunnel. Michigan players’ Germon Green and Ja’Den McBurrows were in the tunnel when they were physically assaulted on their way up to the locker room by Michigan State players. The Michigan players were kicked, punched, and even hit by a helmet during the attack. Both players were injured during the altercation.
Michigan State recently announced that the eight players would be suspended immediately including starters Angelo Grose and star DE Jacoby Windmon. The suspensions were not specified but the players will be suspended until the investigation is finished. Currently, the University of Michigan and Ann Arbor law enforcement are working together to decide if the players will face additional legal charges. Speaking about charges, Germon Green and his family are pressing charges against the Spartan players who assaulted him. Green was injured during the assault and has not been cleared for their matchup against Rutgers this weekend.
So, what happens next?
Michigan head coach Jim Harbaugh spoke on Monday about what he believes will transpire.
“I can’t imagine this will not result in criminal charges,” Harbaugh stated.
As more videos and evidence comes out, it’s likely that a few of the Spartans will be charged with battery or assault because one of the players used a helmet as a weapon, along with other players kicking and punching the Wolverine players. But more importantly, the players who were heavily involved in the incident should be kicked off the team..
Many people have criticized the design of the tunnel along with the lack of security. The tunnel design has been criticized because it holds both teams’ locker rooms and both teams have to go through the tunnel while seeing the opposing team. This is not an issue because there would be fights consistently if the one-way tunnel was truly an issue. Fans and the media blame the lack of security for the fight but that is not the truth. If the MSU players kept their cool and not let their emotions get the best of them, this whole situation would have been avoided. This is bigger than football and violence after the game is not the answer.
