Image source: Twitter video screenshot via @woodwardsports
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Video: Numerous Michigan State football players gang up on lone Michigan player, punching, kicking, and throwing him to ground in stadium tunnel after MSU loss
October 30, 2022
After the Michigan State Spartans lost the gridiron battle to the Michigan Wolverines 29-7 in Ann Arbor on Saturday, some MSU players evidently figured they might still win the war.
Video shows several Spartans ganging up on a Michigan football player — identified in multiple reports as defensive back Ja’Den McBurrows — in the contentious Michigan Stadium tunnel, throwing punches and landing kicks and throwing him to the ground:
\u201cWOAH! The Michigan and Michigan State scuffle carried over into the tunnel. #MSUvsUM \u201d— Woodward Sports Network (@Woodward Sports Network) 1667099440
Another video taken behind police officers at a T-junction in the tunnel appears to show Michigan State players pulling down a Wolverines player:
\u201chttps://t.co/wkKGC8O2IA\u201d— Kyle Austin (@Kyle Austin) 1667099224
Postgame offense
WJRT reported that the scuffle was preempted by trash talk between members of both teams. It is unclear if the Wolverines escalated the situation by drawing attention to how they had managed 276 rushing yards over MSU's 37.
Michigan head coach Jim Harbaugh claimed in the postgame press conference that two Wolverines players had been assaulted, characterizing what he saw in the video of the "10-on-1" skirmish as "pretty, pretty bad."
Harbaugh added that one player had a nasal injury — potentially a broken nose — as a result of the tunnel fight.
Michigan athletic director Warde Manuel called the incident "unacceptable," noting that "this is not what a rivalry should be about."
Manuel indicated that Big Ten Commissioner Kevin Warren was looking into the fight.
\u201cThere was an incident in the tunnel after Michigan's rivalry win over Michigan State.\n\nJim Harbaugh and Warde Manuel addressed it in the postgame press conference.\u201d— Big Ten Network (@Big Ten Network) 1667106069
Spartans coach Mel Tucker tweeted afterward that "our program has a responsibility to uphold the highest level of sportsmanship. While emotions were very high at the conclusion of our rivalry game at Michigan Stadium, there is no excuse for behavior that puts our team or our opponents at risk."
One video appears to show Tucker swinging at a fan who tried to touch him on his way out of the stadium:
\u201cDo not touch Mel Tucker\u2019s head\u201d— Unnecessary Roughness (@Unnecessary Roughness) 1667103540
According to Tucker, Michigan State would "evaluate the events in Ann Arbor and take swift and appropriate action," in "complete cooperation with law enforcement, the Big Ten Conference and MSU and UM leadership."
University of Michigan Deputy Chief of Police Melissa Overton released a statement, indicating that University of Michigan Police were collaborating with MSU Police and investigating the post-game incident.
\u201cUniversity of Michigan Deputy Chief of Police Melissa Overton released this statement on the incident with Michigan State in the tunnel at Michigan Stadium.\u201d— Tom VanHaaren (@Tom VanHaaren) 1667106183
Tunnel of love
Sports Illustrated reported that Michigan Stadium having only one tunnel leading to both locker rooms has been raised as a possible problem previously.
Earlier this month, Penn State and Michigan players got into a shouting match in the same tunnel:
\u201cSome halftime tunnel shenanigans happening.\u201d— Isaiah Hole (@Isaiah Hole) 1665855722
Penn State head coach James Franklin afterward called the route off the field "a problem."
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Joseph MacKinnon is a staff writer for Blaze News.
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