The police investigation into the melee in Michigan Stadium’s tunnel has been turned over to the Washtenaw County Prosecutor´s Office for review.
University of Michigan Deputy Police Chief Melissa Overton made the announcement Saturday night, two weeks after multiple members of Michigan State’s football team roughed up two Michigan players.
‘Consistent with our commitment to transparency and due process, we will not share further information pending the prosecutor´s office review,’ Overton said.
Michigan State coach Mel Tucker suspended eight players for their role in the melee, and they sat out a second game Saturday in a 27-21 win over Rutgers.
‘Michigan State University football core values include integrity, discipline, unselfishness, toughness and accountability,’ said Tucker, who made the decision after ‘reviewing the disturbing electronic evidence.’
However, Michigan coach Jim Harbaugh believes the four should be punished further, saying he ‘can’t imagine that this will not result in criminal charges.’
Social media video shows multiple Michigan State players attacking a single opponent (above)
Defensive back Ja’Den McBurrows (yellow) was pushed, punched and kicked in the tunnel
Coach Jim Harbaugh said he expected the four Michigan State players suspended for their involvement in roughing up two Michigan players to be charged
‘Right now we have an ongoing police investigation,’ Harbaugh said Monday. ‘What happened in the tunnel was egregious. Sickening to watch the videos, the ones that are on social media right now.’
Scuffles broke out in the Michigan Stadium tunnel after fourth-ranked Wolverines beat the Spartans 29-7 Saturday night in Ann Arbor. Social media posts immediately following the incident showed Michigan State players pushing, punching and kicking Michigan’s Ja’Den McBurrows in and near a hallway that doesn’t lead to either locker room.
Harbaugh said defensive back Gemon Green was punched by a Spartans player, sparking the fracas shortly after the Wolverines beat their in-state rivals, and that teammate Ja´Den McBurrows was attacked when he tried to help.
Green was left with a concussion, which kept him out of one game before returning to play in Michigan’s 34-3 win over Nebraska on Saturday.
Attorney Tom Mars, who is representing Green, has said his client deserves to be compensated for his injuries.
‘When college football players brutally attack a member of the opposing team with their helmets, resulting in the player suffering a concussion and other injuries, an apology won’t suffice,’ Mars said in a statement.
‘There has to be severe consequences for this kind of misconduct. Not only does Gemon Green deserve to be compensated for his injuries, severe consequences in this case will deter others who might think they can get away with brutally beating an opposing player and only get a slap on the wrist.
Michigan State head coach Mel Tucker (pictured ) suspended eight players for their role
‘I’ve got news for the MSU players who did this to Gemon. They are going to feel the full wrath of the law.’
Michigan increased the security presence in and around the tunnel and prevented Wolverines from entering it until each Nebraska player left the field at halftime and following the game.
Shocking new footage surfaced last month from the brawl showing a Wolverines player being hit with a Spartan player’s helmet during the post-game melee.
New video footage surfaced from the Michigan-Michigan State brawl, showing a Wolverines player being hit with a Spartan player’s helmet during the post-game melee
The most recent video appears to show a Spartan player swinging and hitting a Michigan player with his helmet. The Wolverines player seems to be alone as several Spartans surround him. Although the tunnel was crowded, the attack is clearly visible in the background
The video appeared to show a Spartan player swinging and hitting a Michigan player with his helmet. The Wolverines player seems to be alone as several Spartans surround him.
Another video, shared by Maize n Brew’s Trevor Woods, also shows the helmet-swinging footage and includes a shot of a MSU staffer leading players away from the fighting.
In the footage, McBurrows and defensive back Green are seen walking alongside Spartans player in the tunnel after beating their in-state rivals for the first time in three years.
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