Michigan State players seen roughing up Michigan’s Ja’Den McBurrows; Jim Harbaugh calls it assault

Michigan and Michigan State’s long-standing rivalry boiled over Saturday night following the Wolverines’ 29-7 victory at The Big House – and it got ugly fast.

Spartans players appeared to rough up Wolverines defensive back Ja’Den McBurrows in the tunnel. Videos posted to social media appeared to show at least three Michigan State players pushing, punching and kicking McBurrows in and near a hallway that does not lead to either locker room.

A person near the scuffle could be heard saying, “What is going on?”

There didn’t appear to be any other Michigan players near McBurrows when the incident occurred.

Michigan coach Jim Harbaugh said a second player, who wasn’t identified, was also attacked and one was injured and might have a broken nose.

“Two of our players were assaulted,” Harbaugh said. “I saw on the one video. Ten on one. It was pretty bad. It needs to be investigated.”

Head coach Jim Harbaugh of the Wolverines shakes hands with head coach Mel Tucker of the Spartans at Michigan Stadium on Oct. 29, 2022, in Ann Arbor.
(Nic Antaya/Getty Images)

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An investigation is underway in partnership with Michigan State University Police, and Michigan’s athletic department and football program, University of Michigan Deputy Chief of Police Melissa Overton said.

“Situations like these, and the safety of the community, are taken very seriously,” Overton said.

Michigan athletic director Warde Manuel said Big Ten Commissioner Kevin Warren, who attended the game, is also looking into the fight.

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Michigan’s Mike Sainristil carries the Paul Bunyan Trophy after the Michigan State game in Ann Arbor, Saturday, Oct. 29, 2022.
(AP Photo/Paul Sancya)

“What happened after the game was completely unacceptable,” Manuel said. “I talked to the commissioner. He’s looking into it. The police is looking into it because they’ve seen the video. This is not how we should interact after the game.… This is not what the rivalry should be about. It should not be how it is remembered.”

Another video showed a fan touching Michigan State coach Mel Tucker on the top of the head. Tucker then took a swipe at the fan.

“I know it was a heated game,” Tucker said of the tunnel incident. “We were trying to get our guys in the locker room. We’ll have to see what happened.”

Tucker added more in tweets Sunday: “As Spartans our program has a responsibility to uphold the highest level of sportsmanship. While emotions were very high at the conclusion of our rivalry game at Michigan Stadium, there is no excuse for behavior that puts our team or our opponents at risk.

Michigan State head coach Mel Tucker watches against Michigan in Ann Arbor, Saturday, Oct. 29, 2022.
(AP Photo/Paul Sancya)