Michigan State suspends players involved in brawl following Michigan loss
After video surfaced of a brawl involving multiple Michigan State players and two separate Michigan players, the Spartans have decided to suspend Tank Brown, Khary Crump, Angelo Grose and Zion Young following the incident.
“Michigan State University football core values include integrity, discipline, unselfishness, toughness and accountability,” coach Mel Tucker said in a statement. “After reviewing the disturbing electronic evidence collected to date of the altercations between Michigan State and University of Michigan student-athletes on Oct. 29, 2022, we are suspending Tank Brown, Khary Crump, Angelo Grose and Zion Young effective immediately.”
Tucker added that the investigation is still ongoing and more suspensions could come, but for now those four players will remain suspended until the investigation is complete.
“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, including but not limited to additional student-athlete participation in the altercations and contributing factors. The initial student-athlete suspensions will remain in place until the investigations are completed.”
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It all began with the Wolverines defeating the Spartans 29-7 on Saturday. Afterward, multiple Michigan State players were caught on video fighting with what appeared to be a lone Michigan player in the tunnel.
Speaking with the media later in the night as the video made it around the news, Wolverines coach Jim Harbaugh said two of his players were “assaulted” during the altercation.
A second video surfaced Sunday afternoon via Twitter, this one featuring the second player Harbaugh mentioned, along with a heightened level of violence, as well.
WATCH: The moments before the Michigan, Michigan State tunnel fight
Originally, it was unclear exactly which Michigan State players and which Michigan players were involved, but multiple reports and further video from Matt Charboneau of The Detroit News began to clear things up.
The Michigan player was potentially wearing No. 1. Michigan, and has two players that wear No. 1 — wide receiver Andrel Anthony and defensive back Ja’Den McBurrows. A closer examination of the first video appears to show the Michigan player have a nameplate with “Mc” at the beginning.
As for the Spartans, the name plates of multiple Michigan State players was visible throughout the first video, but their involvement was to be determined. As for Spartans coach Mel Tucker, he said that he did not know what happened in his press conference immediately after the game.
“I know it was a heated game. Things were heated. We’re trying to get our guys in the locker room. We’re gonna have to figure out what happened,” Tucker said, per Matt Fortuna of The Athletic.
Meanwhile, Harbaugh spoke on the incident as well, adding that one of his players potentially broke his nose during the scuffle.
“Two of our players were assaulted. You saw the one video, the 10 on 1. Pretty bad,” the Wolverines leader said according to Austin Meek of The Athletic. Harbaugh added one had a nasal injury, potentially a broken nose. He also said Michigan athletic director Warde Manuel would address the incident.
“It needs to be investigated and brought to a conclusion,” he added, according to Chris Solari of The Detroit Free Press.
Indisputably, it was an ugly situation that leave a metaphorical black eye on one of college football’s most popular rivalries.
While we now know who will be punished for the tunnel fight between Michigan and Michigan State, it doesn’t take away the stench that’ll always be associated with the 2022 version of the showdown.