JANUARY 27 UPDATE: MSU Takes Our Advice, Suspends Two Naughty Players for Rest of Season -We’re stunned! Michigan State University actually suspended two its hockey players, Andrew Conboy and Corey Tropp, FOR THE REST OF THE SEASON as a result of their attack of Michigan defenseman Steve Kampfer during the teams’ game Saturday night. Said new BadJocks Hero Michigan State coach Rick Comley, “What happened near the end of the game this weekend is not the way in which we want our hockey program represented. We cannot condone their actions. We felt that we had to send a strong message that this behavior will not be tolerated.” We applaud Coach Comley for taking action that, in the short term, might reduce the number of wins his team earns this season but in the long term will build a stronger program for the Spartans. (MLive)
Meanwhile over that the University of Houston, Conference USA has suspended Aubrey Coleman for ONE GAME in response to the junior guard being ejected from Saturday’s game at Arizona after stepping on the face of a Wildcat player. No punishment from UH as we write this. Backbone, anyone?
EARLIER: Poor sportsmanship in college athletic is nothing new. Getting caught on tape AND not seeming to be sorry for your indiscrection . . . now that seems to be a new, and disturbing trend.
First off, we have the Houston v. Arizona NCAA basketball game. Here’s the call from AZ Central:
Arizona trailed 83-75 with 1:30 left in regulation before rallying, spurred on in part by an altercation between UA’s Chase Budinger and Houston’s Aubrey Coleman midway through the second half. With 9:51 left and Houston leading 63-51, Coleman was called for a charge while driving against Budinger. Both fell to the court, but when Coleman got up – and with Budinger on the floor – Coleman stepped on Budinger’s face. (Watch the video below to see just how “accidental” this was on Coleman’s part and how upset he is–NOT!–after hit happens) Budinger quickly got up and went after Coleman. A quick altercation with some pushing took place. Budinger was called for a technical foul because of the push. Budinger said his emotions got to him.
“He stepped on my face, and you can see some footprints on my jersey,” Budinger said, adding he thought it was deliberate. “Without a doubt. . . . Anytime you get kicked in the face, I’d hope you’d retaliate.”
Coleman was called for a flagrant foul and was ejected. Houston coach Tom Penders said the Cougars were hurt by Coleman’s absence.
Coach Penders, with all due respect, after watching this video your main concern shouldn’t be whether your team is hurt by Coleman’s absence, but whether he should be jail or not on assault charges.
Next, we have the Michigan State v. Michigan hockey game. The Spartans (having a rare off year and apparently frustrated by it) were swept this weekend in their series with rival Michigan down in Ann Arbor. Ouch.
With less than a minute left in the game, Michigan State forward Andrew Conboy appears to grab Michigan defenseman Steve Kampfer from behind and knocks him to the ice. It’s at that point that MSU forward Corey Tropp used his stick to slash at Kampfer’s face as he lay on the ice. Yes, there were pentalties, (and it sounds like U of M did something earlier in the game that wasn’t quite kosher) but so far all we have out of MSU coach Rick Comley made what appeared to be a less than heart-felt apology adding, “I don’t condone what happened and I’ll deal with it. Hopefully, Kampfer’s fine. I apologize for it, on behalf of one of our players. I thought it was cheap and uncalled for and I’ll deal with it.” Sorry Rick, the correct response–in my humble opinion should have been, “I’ll watch the video immediately and if it looks like it was done intentionally, Corey Tropp is kicked off the team.” Anyplace else, this would be considered assault, NOT part of the game. A Michgian parent must have also thought so, as he tried to get into the Spartan locker room after the game and Comley had to call the cops to escort his team out of the building. Now THAT’S sportsmanship! (Free Press)
Just in case Rick, here’s the clip.