Here’s why what took place at Michigan could never happen here.
Yes, at the end of Larry Fedora’s last game in 2018, a brawl erupted in the end zone after another frustrating loss in overtime against NC State. And several players on both teams received suspensions that were served the following season.
By comparison, what happened in the tunnel following undefeated Michigan’s 29-7 win over rival Michigan State in Ann Arbor was deplorable to the highest degree. Two members of the Wolverines were assaulted and beaten by a bunch of Spartans, and to this point a half-dozen of them have been suspended with likely more penalties to follow.
It is just another outrageous example of what has occurred with Michigan State athletics over the years, and this one was captured on video tape. So the guilty will not get away with it at the school that covered up “America’s gymnastics trainer” Larry Nassar for decades.
Seems like it is a matter of culture at Michigan State, where some programs like men’s basketball under Tom Izzo would never allow that kind of criminality. Michigan football coach Jim Harbaugh is asking for an extensive investigation and will get it based on the video, which does not lie.
One of the greatest accomplishments at UNC since the days of Dean Smith has been developing a competitive culture with athletes who take pride in themselves as well as the teams they represent. Carolina is among those schools where such boorish behavior in athletics does not exist.
Not only do Tar Heels teams from all 28 programs win more games, matches and championships than most schools, they have great young men and women who are recruited for their civility as well as their ability. Carolina almost never takes a chance on signing a bad actor from a bad family.
Now, the ABCers will point to the defensive back in football who was arrested after a confrontation with his pregnant girlfriend. But a thorough investigation upheld the player’s side of the story and he was back on the field after a few games.
The Tar Heels have hundreds of athletes who live under a code of decency in a culture that appears to get stronger every school year. Sure, kids will be kids, but peer pressure and pride are at work with the wonderful young people who represent our teams and colors. Nothing as deliberate and egregious as in the tunnel at Michigan could ever happen here.
Administrators, athletes, coaches, alumni and fans should all be proud.
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