ANN ARBOR, Mich. — Now that the Washtenaw County Prosecutor's office on Monday confirmed it has received the UM-MSU tunnel incident report and is reviewing the case, the Big Ten Conference will await the findings and formally review the information once released.
On Saturday, the University of Michigan police department said it had concluded its investigation into the altercation in the Michigan Stadium tunnel on Oct. 29 following the Michigan-Michigan State game and had turned over the case to the Washtenaw County Prosecutor's office.
Michigan State coach Mel Tucker suspended eight players after the incident that left two Michigan players injured. There were several videos, including one taken by a Detroit News reporter, that captured portions of the tunnel incident.
"We can confirm that a report was submitted to our office by our partners at UM-DPSS (Division of Public Safety and Security)," the prosecutor's office said Monday in an email to The Detroit News. "As with any case, we will review and make a decision based on the evidence and the law.
"We are unable to comment further while the case is under review. As with any of our cases, we are not able to say when our review will be completed."
The Detroit News reached out to the Big Ten Conference on Monday for comment now that the prosecutor's office has the case.
"The Big Ten Conference is aware that the University of Michigan Police Department has completed their investigation of an altercation at Michigan Stadium between student-athletes from Michigan State University and the University of Michigan football teams on October 29, 2022," the statement reads. "The official findings have been submitted to the Washtenaw County Prosecutor's Office.
"When the conference receives the law enforcement findings, we will thoroughly review the information, in addition to the video evidence and written documentation submitted to the conference office and determine the appropriate action steps in alignment with the Big Ten Conference Sportsmanship Policies."
In terms of major disciplinary action from the Big Ten, to ensure impartial and fair disciplinary action, it's worth noting that any action must be approved by the Joint Group Executive Committee (JGEC) in conjunction with Big Ten commissioner Kevin Warren.
Additionally, the Big Ten allows for the institution that risks being disciplined to have an option to offer its position. The same is true for any individuals, as well, who may risk discipline. The Big Ten, out of respect for the integrity of the police investigation, has not yet had an opportunity to interview any of the student-athletes involved.
"The conference has done significant work but is waiting to issue findings to ensure there is no interference," according to a Big Ten source. "And if there is new information from the investigation, the conference is able to review and take action as needed."
UM deputy chief of police Melissa Overton said in a statement Saturday night that the investigation was completed "in collaboration with our law enforcement partners and Michigan State University." She described a "thorough" investigation.
In the moments after Michigan's victory over Michigan State in the night game at Michigan Stadium on Oct. 29, Michigan State's players headed up the tunnel to their locker room. Michigan's Gemon Green and Ja'Den McBurrows appear on video leaving the field and also walking up the tunnel while the rest of the Michigan players remained on the field celebrating with the Paul Bunyan Trophy.
Two separate altercations broke out in the tunnel, portions of which were captured on several video clips, some shared that night on social media. One of the videos was taken by a Detroit News reporter, and two days after the incident, ABC released footage from its tunnel camera.
Michigan State's Khary Crump was shown on the ABC video swinging his helmet at Green. Michigan State's Jacoby Windmon also appeared to be involved in the altercation with Green.
In another video published by The News, Michigan's Ja'Den McBurrows is seen being thrown to the floor by Michigan State's Itayvion "Tank" Brown, while Angelo Grose and Zion Young appear to be punching and kicking McBurrows before he jumped back to his feet. Michigan coach Jim Harbaugh two days later said McBurrows had gone to Gemon's defense while he was being hit by Crump's helmet. Then McBurrows was attacked by multiple players.
Tucker suspended Crump, Windmon, Brown, Grose and Young, along with Brandon Wright, Justin White and Malcolm Jones. Grose, Young, Brown and Crump were the first four players Tucker suspended the night after the incident. They have not practiced nor played since.
Green traveled with Michigan to Rutgers a week later but did not play. He did play against Nebraska last Saturday. McBurrows has not played since the incident.
Michigan unveiled a new security effort before, during and after the Wolverines' game against Nebraska last Saturday, their first home game since the MSU game, in the wake of the tunnel incident. At halftime, Nebraska went up the tunnel with a delay before Michigan headed to its locker room. A Michigan athletic department spokesman said before the game there would be additional security on the field before the tunnel entrance.
The new policy after after the game was noticeable as Michigan players and staff remained on the field not far from the tunnel entrance until every Nebraska player left the field. About a dozen Nebraska players who remained on the field in prayer alongside a group of Michigan players also kneeling in prayer ran off the field, but there was a slight delay before Michigan headed to its locker room.
