After further review, the Big Ten has decided not to take any disciplinary action against Michigan State offensive lineman Jack Allen.
Ohio State coach Urban Meyer sent a video to the Big Ten on Monday for review that shows Allen (pictured, No. 66) and Buckeyes defensive lineman Johnathan Hankins going at each other at the bottom of a pile. Hankins was grabbing Allen’s facemask and Allen appeared to retaliate by shoving his hand inside Hankins’ helmet.
Here is the statement from Michigan State athletic director Mark Hollis:“Michigan State values and respects the Big Ten’s Sportslike Conduct Policy, and both parties take any alleged violations of the agreement very seriously. There are procedures in place to review any alleged violations of the policy. After a thorough review, the Big Ten has determined that MSU offensive lineman Jack Allen didn’t violate the conference’s Sportslike Conduct Policy.
“As athletics director, I had an opportunity to be involved in this review process and while his actions ‘weren’t a football play,’ this clearly wasn’t an eye-gouging incident.”
As I’ve stated before, the bottom of a football pile is a dirty place. Did Allen try to gouge Hankins’ eyes? Probably, but both players were engaged with each other before moving on immediately after incident.
Guess the Big Ten felt the need to do the same thing.