Three weeks ago, Maryland captains refused to shake hands with their Penn State counterparts before their 20-19 win.
Ninety-nine percent of America saw it and thought, “Shame on them.” Central Michigan’s captains thought, “Cool, let’s try it!”
Central Michigan captains Titus Davis, Justin Cherocci, Andy Phillips, Leterrius Walton declined to shake hands of Western Michigan’s captains, and on Monday the Mid-American Conference issued a public reprimand for that decision.
“Sportsmanship is among the core values of intercollegiate athletics and a value reinforced by members of the Mid-American Conference,” commissioner Jon Steinbrecher said in a statement. “While the pre-game handshake is a simple gesture, it is one that is symbolic of the ethics and traditions of the game. Team captains are expected to demonstrate leadership and have a responsibility to pattern behavior that exemplifies the very best values of the team and institution they represent.”
The conference has endorsed Central Michigan’s decision to strip the four players of their captainship.
To add insult to insult, Central Michigan lost the game, 32-20. The Chippewas have concluded their regular season at 7-5 and wait to see if they will garner a bowl selection.