Fresh off being named most valuable player of the Big Ten Championship Game after leading his team to victory, Michigan State quarterback Connor Cook set Twitter ablaze with an apparent show of disrespect for the only two-time Heisman Trophy winner and Ohio State and Big Ten legend Archie Griffin. Griffin was on stage to hand the game’s MVP trophy to the Spartans quarterback, and Cook grabbed the trophy from Griffin’s hand and gave a weak hand shake as he prepared to answer questions from FOX Sports’ Joel Klatt on stage.
Well that was rude... pic.twitter.com/vbLTIlAVgZ
— Chris Renwick (@ChrisRenwickWJR) December 6, 2015
After the game and on-field celebration, Cook checked Twitter for reaction and congratulations from friends and followers, but instead he was buried in criticism for his apparent snub of Griffin. During on on-set postgame interview on Big Ten Network, Cook offered his apology and explanation for the bizarre moment, claiming to have just been caught in the moment and not realizing what he did or how it looked.
Connor Cook saw the negative tweets, and the @MSU_Football QB gave this apology to Archie Griffin.
— Big Ten Network (@BigTenNetwork) December 6, 2015
https://t.co/BGuAMNiWp8
Cook also took to his Twitter account to address the criticism.
Cook and Michigan State will now prepare for the College Football Playoff, as it is all but official the victory in the Big Ten championship game Saturday night has locked the Spartans into the four-team field, whihc will be confirmed today. Cook completed 16 of 32 pass attempts for 191 yards and an interception against Iowa in the defensively gritty Big Ten championship game victory.