Michigan State AD asks Big Ten to investigate post-game scuffle with Michigan

A fight breaks out between Michigan and Michigan State after an NCAA college football game, Saturday, Oct. 26, 2024, in Ann Arbor, Michigan. (AP Photo/Jose Juarez)

EAST LANSING, Mich. (AP) — Michigan State athletic director Alan Haller has asked the Big Ten to review what happened in the post-game altercation on the field at the end of Saturday’s loss at Michigan.

“I was immediately on the field” Haller said Monday. “I didn’t see any of the things I’ve seen on videotape since. I did call the commissioner (Tony Petitti) immediately after the game. I thought the sportsmanship policy should be applied. I have asked the Big Ten to look into this.

“I do believe we had a staff member and a player in the scrum. I’m waiting for the conference to watch that and they tell me what they saw.

Michigan tight end Colston Loveland and Michigan State defensive end Anthony Jones pushed, shoved and punched helmets, sparking a skirmish that saw the rivals throw punches as the final seconds ticked down the clock Saturday night. Michigan players left the nearby sideline to join the scrum and Michigan State players rushed to the fray.

Video appeared to show Michigan running back Kalel Mullings making a stomping motion while surrounded by bodies, but it’s unclear what was on the ground next to him.

“I didn’t thoroughly look at every angle and everything,” Michigan State coach Jonathan Smith said Monday when asked what he saw. ‘There were a lot of bodies there. We had a staff member who was in contention and a player in contention, and that’s what we hope (the Big Ten) is looking at.

The last time the teams met at the Big House two years ago, a fight broke out in the tunnel, with Spartans punching, kicking and using a helmet to hit Michigan players.

Seven Michigan State players were later charged with crimes and the Big Ten fined the school $100,000. Michigan was reprimanded for failing to provide adequate protection for personnel from both the home and visiting teams when entering and leaving the venue.

“I don’t think this situation should have been a criminal incident and I don’t think it should be.” Haller said. “This is a sportsmanship situation and the conference will look into it. My desire is that everyone is held to the same standard, that they are held to the same standard.”

Michigan coach Sherrone Moore addressed the skirmish during his press conference on Monday.

“The post-match skirmish is simply unacceptable, not how we behave, but we will address that internally,” he said. “That is not how we represent the University of Michigan, the Block M or the winged helmet. We will ensure that it can never happen again.”

Moore told his players in the locker room that what happened was unacceptable and planned to deliver the same message on Monday.

Moore said the conference had not contacted him about the skirmish.