Michigan-Wisconsin Postgame Fight

LGIllini · Feb 22, 2022

While I don't agree with the players involved only getting one game suspensions, I do wonder if they are being somewhat lenient since they were basically drawn into the fight by their coach(es). Not saying they were innocent, but they never would have been in that position if the adult that was supposed to be leading them and setting an example hadn't instigated the whole thing.

Redbull · Feb 22, 2022

drsmitty74 said:
Interesting, he apologizes to the ScUM fans, his ScUM players, ScUM families and the WI coach he B!^ch slapped, but, no apology to Gard, WI fans, players or anyone else.

Coward is a dirtbag.

Should have apologized to the BIG and it's fans too.

altgeld88 · Feb 22, 2022

Calvin said:
Don't expect the conferences to be much better. They're both there to maximize the business side of things. The conferences might be a little better in how they respond to their fanbase, but overall they have similar problems and incentives.

I think the message here is that UM gets a pass/slap on the wrist. The league's not pressuring them to fire him or take any players out for any length of time. If he gets back on the winning track, I expect all is forgiven. If not, this puts more pressure on him. Should all blow over soon enough.

Nothing to see here. Move along.

I don't think much has changed over the years regarding feckless league administration in these matters. The Minnesota basketball players' attack on Ohio State 50 years ago yielded suspensions for the remainder of the season for two (IIRC) of the five Minnesota players involved, no suspensions for the remaining three, and nothing for the coach. And that wasn't a brawl; it was a mugging on TV in which even the fans participated. YouTube still carries footage of a player stomping on the head of an injured OSU player repeatedly, which left that player with permanent corneal damage.

Minnesota flipped that loss at home to Ohio State, which put OSU in the driver's seat in league play, into a situation in which OSU lost its best player for 2-3 games and Minnesota won the BT title. The only further repercussions to the program and coach Bill Musselman occurred two seasons later when the NCAA caught up with him, found ~ 120 program violations, and he skipped town to coach in the ABA, leaving the Gophers kneecapped with sanctions even though he had assembled for his successor, Jim Dutcher, a powerhouse team.

That attack in Minneapolis was the best thing that could have happened to Minnesota basketball that season, and in the several seasons that followed. The league basically rewarded them for it.

Rocky · Feb 22, 2022

Bacon Butkus Swanson said:
What concerns me is our game will be Diabate's first game back. If things get chippy, I hope Kofi and the boys can keep their cool. The goons in Ann Arbor have nothing to lose and the Illini can lose quite a bit.

Pretty certain they will ...and "goons" is an apt description.

BWBW · Feb 22, 2022

FloridaMan said:
Agree with you, BUT the Big10 has already set the penalty for swinging on other teams at one game so our guys would simply miss the Penn St game at home. Anything more would be inconsistent.

Inconsistent......Kevin Warren's motto.

Our season would be over, no BTT or March madness, and Michigan would be awarded the regular season championship.

Not using /s, or maybe I should ?????

EyeoftheIllini · Feb 22, 2022

LGIllini said:
While I don't agree with the players involved only getting one game suspensions, I do wonder if they are being somewhat lenient since they were basically drawn into the fight by their coach(es). Not saying they were innocent, but they never would have been in that position if the adult that was supposed to be leading them and setting an example hadn't instigated the whole thing.

That’s kind of my take. I think the intensity of the moment and the general pushing and shoving going on around them had something to do with it — making it more a reaction. Not saying I agree, and it looked to me like Diabate should have received at least another game.

Again. I don’t agree with it, but I’m guessing if asked for justification for one game versus the two Griffin received they’d say Griffin’s “stomp” occurred during a game and wasn’t a reaction per se but more of an overt (maybe not the correct word, but hopefully you get my meaning) action. Again, I don’t agree with that.

WyattEarp · Feb 22, 2022

altgeld88 said:
I don't think much has changed over the years regarding feckless league administration in these matters. The Minnesota basketball players' attack on Ohio State 50 years ago yielded suspensions for the remainder of the season for two (IIRC) of the five Minnesota players involved, no suspensions for the remaining three, and nothing for the coach. And that wasn't a brawl; it was a mugging on TV in which even the fans participated. YouTube still carries footage of a player stomping on the head of an injured OSU player repeatedly, which left that player with permanent corneal damage.

Minnesota flipped that loss at home to Ohio State, which put OSU in the driver's seat in league play, into a situation in which OSU lost its best player for 2-3 games and Minnesota won the BT title. The only further repercussions to the program and coach Bill Musselman occurred two seasons later when the NCAA caught up with him, found ~ 120 program violations, and he skipped town to coach in the ABA, leaving the Gophers kneecapped with sanctions even though he had assembled for his successor, Jim Dutcher, a powerhouse team.

That attack in Minneapolis was the best thing that could have happened to Minnesota basketball that season, and in the several seasons that followed. The league basically rewarded them for it.

Fascinating…thanks for putting this up. Quite the history lesson.

Redbull · Feb 22, 2022

azillini1 said:
Juwan Howard issues statement being suspended by Michigan
February 21, 2022
by Grey Papke
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Michigan coach Juwan Howard apologized Monday for his actions following his team’s loss to Wisconsin on Sunday.

In a statement released Monday evening, Howard said he was “truly sorry” for how he had behaved in a scuffle during the postgame handshakes. He also apologized to Wisconsin assistant Joe Krabbenhoft, as well as to his players and Michigan fans. Howard added that he had to set a better example for his athletes, that there were no excuses, and that “this mistake will never happen again.”

Took him long enough!!!!!!!!

Took some time to set up the "come to Jesus" meeting with Michigan AD and then have somebody write a reply for Juwan.
Hopefully Michigan AD said no more....Juwan not a very fast learner though

Rocky · Feb 22, 2022

altgeld88 said:
I don't think much has changed over the years regarding feckless league administration in these matters. The Minnesota basketball players' attack on Ohio State 50 years ago yielded suspensions for the remainder of the season for two (IIRC) of the five Minnesota players involved, no suspensions for the remaining three, and nothing for the coach. And that wasn't a brawl; it was a mugging on TV in which even the fans participated. YouTube still carries footage of a player stomping on the head of an injured OSU player repeatedly, which left that player with permanent corneal damage.

Minnesota flipped that loss at home to Ohio State, which put OSU in the driver's seat in league play, into a situation in which OSU lost its best player for 2-3 games and Minnesota won the BT title. The only further repercussions to the program and coach Bill Musselman occurred two seasons later when the NCAA caught up with him, found ~ 120 program violations, and he skipped town to coach in the ABA, leaving the Gophers kneecapped with sanctions even though he had assembled for his successor, Jim Dutcher, a powerhouse team.

That attack in Minneapolis was the best thing that could have happened to Minnesota basketball that season, and in the several seasons that followed. The league basically rewarded them for it.

Bill's son, Eric Musselman, is current head coach of the AP Poll 18th ranked Arkansas Razorbacks (21-6). I don't know anything about him. We never know how sons will turn out ... as exemplified in Turgenev's classic novel.

NJJ871 · Feb 22, 2022

BWBW said:
Inconsistent......Kevin Warren's motto.

Our season would be over, no BTT or March madness, and Michigan would be awarded the regular season championship.

Not using /s, or maybe I should ?????

I disagree, Kevin Warren is very consistent. He consistently protects/rewards tOSU and Michigan, the rest of the league can pound sand.

Rocky · Feb 22, 2022

Juwan's post game presser tells it all. His initial response, "To be perfectly honest with you", is both comical and sad. He did not realize how satirical he sounded. He immediately explains why. Well, the old saying, "If you're explaining or complaining, you're losing" aptly comes to mind. He has learned nothing, will continue his reinforced behavior down the road, and will continue to cite "grandma and the south side of Chicago" for as long as he breathes on this earth.

Innocent Primate · Feb 22, 2022

“After taking time to reflect on all that happened . . .”

Ahh, the ever reliable Costanza excuse, fit for all occasions.

727ill · Feb 22, 2022

FloridaMan said:
Agree with you, BUT the Big10 has already set the penalty for swinging on other teams at one game so our guys would simply miss the Penn St game at home. Anything more would be inconsistent.

The penalty for swinging and missing is one game. The penalty for swinging and connecting would be far longer obviously.

jumpingjack · Feb 22, 2022

727ill said:
The penalty for swinging and missing is one game. The penalty for swinging and connecting would be far longer obviously.

Clearly the takeaway from all this is that it's ok to fight if you are bad at it

the national · Feb 22, 2022

Rocky said:
Bill's son, Eric Musselman, is current head coach of the AP Poll 18th ranked Arkansas Razorbacks (21-6). I don't know anything about him. We never know how sons will turn out ... as exemplified in Turgenev's classic novel.

He coached Nevada for a while. He tends to wear his heart on his sleeve (see him ripping off his shirt in the post game celebration/floor rush when they beat Auburn)

727ill · Feb 22, 2022

jumpingjack said:
Clearly the takeaway from all this is that it's ok to fight if you are bad at it

Well I'll go against the grain here but I'm of the opinion that the suspensions for the players were fair. They didn't connect on any punches and its clear they were provoked in some fashion.

We can't suspend everyone for 2+ games for swings / punches they took but didn't land. That sets a dangerous precedent for stuff that happens in-game too. Would you have suspended Damonte when he swung his elbow (on purpose I might add) at Connor McCaffrey a couple years ago?

ILLFAN67 · Feb 22, 2022

phats22 said:
Coach gets it. i love this and wholeheartedly agree. this is sport, this is college and, irrespective of the NBA farm system many programs have become, most players aren't going pro. education, mentoring, life preparation- that's what it will be about for most of these kids-

"Life is competition. Sometimes the other team's got more points, so you shake their hand, they kicked your butt and you move on." Amen.

Contrast with Francon-
“I’ve said publicly before, the handshake line is not something I’m in favor of,” McCaffery said. “Not that I’m not in favor of sportsmanship, clearly I am. But I think it’s a recipe for a problem — it happens all the time."

There are few coaches more emotional and outspoken than BU during a game but he reels it in once the buzzer hits zero. my inference from many statements is he understands it is as much about what happens off the court (practice, prep, buy in, responsibility, etc) than on. what a great example to set for these young men; parents should flock to this guy if they care about their kids at all

Fran is the poster boy for emotional outbursts!

Centennial Illini · Feb 22, 2022

727ill said:
Well I'll go against the grain here but I'm of the opinion that the suspensions for the players were fair. They didn't connect on any punches and its clear they were provoked in some fashion.

We can't suspend everyone for 2+ games for swings / punches they took but didn't land. That sets a dangerous precedent for stuff that happens in-game too. Would you have suspended Damonte when he swung his elbow (on purpose I might add) at Connor McCaffrey a couple years ago?

It was McCaffrey, that doesn't count

jumpingjack · Feb 22, 2022

727ill said:
Well I'll go against the grain here but I'm of the opinion that the suspensions for the players were fair. They didn't connect on any punches and its clear they were provoked in some fashion.

We can't suspend everyone for 2+ games for swings / punches they took but didn't land. That sets a dangerous precedent for stuff that happens in-game too. Would you have suspended Damonte when he swung his elbow (on purpose I might add) at Connor McCaffrey a couple years ago?

Maybe, although the video of it makes it debatable what he was swinging his arm up for as the two players had tangled arms fractions of a second before. I think it was on the edge, which DMFW has definitely trod before. But a thrown punch is a thrown punch. You don't do it not to land it, you're just bad at it. Whatever, at this point it is what it is.

pruman91 · Feb 22, 2022

jumpingjack said:
The players and coaches as a whole conduct themselves generally well. The administration...meh.

I agree 100 %.............................................

Roundball Sage · Feb 22, 2022

FlotownIllini said:
Exactly. I mean, why stop at the handshake line? Violence has broken out during games themselves. Should we not just do away with competitive sport, altogether, lest the inherent dangers generated by the high emotions therein potentially lead to further outbreaks?

Maybe Michigan and the Big Ten are jealous at the ongoing success of WWE. Rabid fans and story lines. Lucrative money flow.

One ploy that WWE uses is to have a bit of a scrum between combatants to gin up interest before an upcoming Pay For View. Maybe that’s what we’ve got here.

Maybe now that Howard has ‘apologized’, he’ll get back into character and stand defiantly in the middle of the arena with microphone in hand and start to strut around and go into his spiel WWE-style to taunt the rest of the Big Ten and dare them to ‘bring it on’!

This might be one way to compensate for a lost and disappointing season. And pick up some new fans along the way who just like the drama.

GBIllini · Feb 22, 2022

EyeoftheIllini said:
That’s kind of my take. I think the intensity of the moment and the general pushing and shoving going on around them had something to do with it — making it more a reaction. Not saying I agree, and it looked to me like Diabate should have received at least another game.

Again. I don’t agree with it, but I’m guessing if asked for justification for one game versus the two Griffin received they’d say Griffin’s “stomp” occurred during a game and wasn’t a reaction per se but more of an overt (maybe not the correct word, but hopefully you get my meaning) action. Again, I don’t agree with that.

Should be one game for each swing.

Rocky · Feb 22, 2022

the national said:
He coached Nevada for a while. He tends to wear his heart on his sleeve (see him ripping off his shirt in the post game celebration/floor rush when they beat Auburn)

omg

Well, ... Dee Brown started the jersey pop at a Penn State away game, and Diego Maradona started the rip-off the-jersey celebration in soccer.

... well,

Zorak · Feb 22, 2022

Howard should be fired. Nothing less is acceptable.

illiniguy · Feb 22, 2022

Rocky said:
Bill's son, Eric Musselman, is current head coach of the AP Poll 18th ranked Arkansas Razorbacks (21-6). I don't know anything about him. We never know how sons will turn out ... as exemplified in Turgenev's classic novel.

Jeffrey Jordan says hello.