Charges for Michigan State players after fight?

ANN ARBOR, MI. — Jim Harbaugh expects the four suspended Michigan State football players involved in roughing two Michigan team members to be punished to the full extent of the law.

“I can’t imagine that it wouldn’t lead to criminal charges,” the Michigan coach said Monday.

Harbaugh said defensive back Jemon Green had a hit Spartan in the Michigan Stadium tunnel shortly after the fourth-ranked Wolverines beat their in-state rival Saturday night, and teammate Ja’Dan McBurroughs was attacked as he tried to help.

In a video circulating on social media, McBurroughs can be seen being pushed, punched and kicked by several Michigan State players, who drag him out of the tunnel and into a hallway that does not lead to any of the locker rooms.

Harbaugh said both players are out with injuries and added he didn’t know if Green, the starting quarterback for the third straight season, would be cleared to play Saturday night at Rutgers.

Michigan State coach Mel Tucker announced Sunday night that linebacker Tank Brown, defensive end Angela Grose, defensive end Zion Young and cornerback Harry Crump have been suspended with immediate effect.

The video shows Brown, Grose and Young making out with McBarrows.

“Michigan State University’s core football values ​​include integrity, discipline, selflessness, toughness and accountability,” said Tucker, who made the decision after “reviewing troubling electronic evidence.”

McBarrows and Green walked up the tunnel with the Spartans after the game, while much of the Michigan team waved their opponents off the field and other Wolverines celebrated near the student section of the stadium.

“They were walking down the tunnel,” Harbaugh said when asked why Green and McBarrows weren’t with the rest of their teammates.

University of Michigan Deputy Police Chief Melissa Overton said Saturday night that the investigation began in partnership with Michigan State Police, the Michigan athletic department and the Wolverines football program.

“The investigation is taking some time,” Overton said Sunday.

Tucker said the school is working with law enforcement, Michigan State and Michigan campus administration and the Big Ten Conference to assess what happened, including identifying other players involved in the altercation and contributing factors.

“The initial suspensions of the student-athletes will remain in effect pending the conclusion of the investigation,” said Tucker, whose head was touched in the tunnel by a fan in the stands Saturday night. In response, the coach waved the fan’s hand away.

Michigan State President Samuel Stanley apologized for the “violent” fight.

“I am deeply saddened by this incident and the unacceptable behavior of members of our football program,” Stanley said in a statement. “On behalf of Michigan State University, my sincere apologies to the University of Michigan and the student-athletes who were injured.

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“There is no provocation that could justify the behavior we see in the video. Rivalry can be strong, but it should never be brutal.’

Harbaugh said Monday that an apology was not enough.

The Big Ten said Sunday it is gathering information and plans to take appropriate action.

It was the second straight game at Michigan that involved an altercation in the long, narrow tunnel that runs from the locker room to the field.

Earlier this month, Penn State coach James Franklin said the policy needed to be changed to allow for more orderly use of the tunnel.

Heated words were exchanged and Michigan State players said Pennsylvania players pelted them with peanut butter and jelly sandwiches as the teams headed to the locker room at halftime of a scrimmage game the Wolverines won 41-17 on Oct. 15.

Harbaugh said Franklin acted as the “instigator” and claimed the Nittany Lions stopped in the tunnel to prevent his team from gaining access to their locker room.