EAST LANSING, MI (WTVB) – The Big Ten has handed down a fine and public reprimands for violations of the conference’s sportsmanship policy during an incident before the Michigan and Michigan State football game in East Lansing Saturday.
The league found Michigan State violated the policy when the team walked across the field arm-in-arm and initiated contact with several members of Michigan’s team who were taking part in pre-game warmups.
The MSU football team along with head coach Mark Dantonio were reprimanded and the school was fined $10,000s.
U-of-M linebacker Devin Bush junior was reprimanded for using his cleats to deface the Spartan logo at midfield and head coach Jim Harbaugh received a reprimand for comments made about the incident.
In a statement announcing the punishments, Big Ten commissioner Jim Delany said they are fortunate the events did not escalate into a much more serious matter and that traditions do not supersede the values of good sportsmanship or player safety.
