4 Michigan State Players Suspended For Tunnel Fight With Michigan Player
By Jason Hall
October 31, 2022
Four Michigan State Spartans football players have been suspended in relation to a viral video that shows them fighting one Michigan Wolverines player in the tunnel at Michigan Stadium following Saturday (October 29) night's game, ESPN reports.
Michigan State linebacker Tank Brown, cornerback Khary Crump, safety Angelo Grose and defensive end Zion Young were all suspended effective immediately, head coach Mel Tucker announced after watching the now-viral video of the incident.
All four players will remain suspended until the completion of all investigations stemming from the incident. Tucker said other student-athletes could also face disciplinary action.
"We are currently working with law enforcement, Michigan State and Michigan campus leadership, and the Big Ten Conference to further evaluate the events in Ann Arbor," Tucker said in a statement obtained by ESPN on Sunday (October 30) night. "Including, but not limited to, additional student-athlete participation in the altercation and contributing factors."
Michigan State football coach Mel Tucker has suspended four players for their role in roughing up Michigan players in a stadium tunnel after losing a game.
— AP Top 25 (@AP_Top25) October 31, 2022
by @larrylage https://t.co/CJRPQ2quP1 pic.twitter.com/DliWx48MoV
Multiple videos shared online showed several Michigan State players pushing, punching and kicking one Michigan player, which appears to be sophomore defensive back Ja'Den McBurrows.
Footage of the scuffling pic.twitter.com/cipLWi5RBS
— Matt Charboneau (@mattcharboneau) October 30, 2022
— Kyle Austin (@kylebaustin) October 30, 2022
Michigan State vice president Alan Haller issued a statement vowing to take necessary preliminary action and suspend the players involved based on the video footage.
"On behalf of our university and athletics department, I have been in consistent contact with University of Michigan Athletics Director Warde Manuel and Big Ten Conference Commissioner Kevin Warren," Haller said via ESPN. "In addition to members of our Spartan family to offer our apologies and to ensure our collaboration with law enforcement as they conduct investigations into the matter."
A second video that surfaced on Sunday appeared to show an unidentified Michigan State player swinging a helmet at Michigan defensive back Gemon Green, which Michigan head coach Jim Harbaugh referred to in his postgame press conference.
The 2nd Jumping harbaugh was referring to
— GBP (@GoBluePoole) October 30, 2022
Just kick them all off or suspend them pic.twitter.com/SWooBiVTLo
The University of Michigan Police Department confirmed it launched an investigation into the incident in partnership with Michigan State University Police, Michigan Athletics and Michigan football in relation to the incident.
"The University of Michigan Police, in partnership with Michigan State University Police, Michigan Athletics and Michigan football, is actively reviewing footage and investigating the postgame incident," the department said in a statement obtained by ESPN. "Situations like these, and the safety of the community, are taken very seriously."