suspensions

The Big Ten, Michigan, and Wisconsin have issued the expected disciplinary actions for Howard’s attack and the ensuing brawl.

The short version: Howard will be out five games, and Terrance Williams and Moussa Diabate will miss the Rutgers game. The Wisconsin player who threw punches was also suspended a game. Howard was fined $40,000 and Gard fined $10,000.

The longer version: The five-game suspension, all of them with big tourney implications, will go through the end of the regular season. Those include the makeup game with MSU, three more home tilts with Rutgers, Illinois, and Iowa, and the finale in Columbus. He was also fined $40,000. The league’s maximum penalty is 2 games so this can be interpreted as the University of Michigan tacking on 3 more games to address the seriousness of Howard’s actions.

Howard and Manuel released statements through Michigan. Howard’s includes an appropriate apology and a promise that this will not occur again.

"After taking time to reflect on all that happened, I realize how unacceptable both my actions and words were, and how they affected so many. I am truly sorry."

"I am offering my sincerest apology to my players and their families, my staff, my family and the Michigan fans around the world. I would like to personally apologize to Wisconsin's Assistant Coach Joe Krabbenhoft and his family, too."

"Lastly, I speak a lot about being a Michigan man and representing the University of Michigan with class and pride, I did not do that, nor did I set the right example in the right way for my student-athletes. I will learn from my mistake and this mistake will never happen again. No excuses!"

Three players who threw punches will also serve 1-game suspensions. They are Terrance Williams II, Moussa Diabate, and Wisconsin’s Jahcobi Neath. Williams and Diabate will be absent for Wednesday’s game against Rutgers, while Neath will miss a trip to Minnesota.

Wisconsin head coach Greg Gard was also fined $10,000.

Five games for the instigator and 1 for swinging participants seems right. I’ve said my piece. Minus the Wisconsin assistant coaches, the league’s action was not far from the expectation.

UPDATE: Wisconsin came in with a response miles below the lowest possible expectations:

Statement from Wisconsin Athletics pic.twitter.com/Lyo5ai8uHf

— Wisconsin Badgers (@UWBadgers) February 22, 2022

Again, I've said my piece. That Wisconsin somehow managed to come out of all this looking worse than the school whose head coach threw the first punch is an incredible achievement, but doesn't improve the look for Michigan any. Howard will hold to his promise or we're having another conversation entirely.

Rumors about senior running back Chris Evans running into some kind of serious academic trouble have been circulating for about a week without word from an official source. Michigan today confirmed that Evans, at least for the moment, is off the team, via Angelique Chengalis of the Detroit News.

Chris Evans is not a member of the football team at this time — per David Ablauf, Associate AD for Football Communications. “Privacy laws prohibit us from commenting further.”

— angelique (@chengelis) February 5, 2019

Evans confirmed it's school-related but he isn't leaving the school:

I am going through some academic issues right now. I’m working through it now. I will still continue my career at the University of Michigan ! #GoBlue

— Chris Evans (@Kidnplay_abc123) February 5, 2019

The Michigan Daily's Ethan Wolfe reported that it was indeed some form of academic misconduct.

Sources told The Daily that Evans’ departure is a result of academic misconduct, and he was disenrolled from one of his classes this week. It is unclear whether he is still enrolled at the University. Evans explained his situation on Twitter following news breaking of his status on the team.

We also received a couple of credible-ish reports last week that these academic issues were both very serious and self-inflicted. Students reported he was not in class last week but was today, so it appears that he is getting at least a chance to work back toward his degree.

His future on the football team remains in greater doubt. Regardless of whether Evans is available again next fall, he almost certainly won't be participating in Spring practices.

The news was particularly shocking given the particular player. Evans has never—to our or the public's knowledge—been connected to off-field issues in the past. Evans runs a youth football league in Ann Arbor (his team is ranked #3 in their age group), and in fact asked us to promote a fundraiser for it held the same night we did that Pistons event.

Sophomore WR Grant Perry today was informed of the charges that would be filed against him, which include two counts of sexual assault and running from police. He has been suspended apparently until the law is finished with him.

Statement from UM regarding Perry's arraignment: pic.twitter.com/tG2k1c2bBr

— Rachel Lenzi (@RLenziCMG) December 22, 2016

The charges against him include assaulting, battering, resisting or obstructing an officer(a felony), plus two counts of fourth degree sexual assault and a minor-in-possession charge (all misdemeanors). The Lansing State Journal had some details on the incident:

He is accused of touching a female who was waiting in line outside a downtown East Lansing bar at 12:20 a.m. Oct. 15.

"When (police) arrived on scene, we tried to grab onto him, and we had to chase him," said Lt. Scott Wriggelsworth, a spokesman for the East Lansing Police Department. "In the midst of that fracas, one of our officers suffered a minor hand injury."

Perry, along with Jack and Jared Wangler, was suspended for the Illinois game the week after the incident, and Perry didn’t travel to MSU. He was active for the Maryland, Iowa, Indiana, and Ohio State games this year, notably catching 4 passes for 49 yards in The Game. How much of the incident Michigan knew at the time of disciplinary action is an open question.

Perry, playing a Dileo-style slot, was Michigan’s third most productive receiver this year, and was expected to play a larger role in 2017 with the graduation of Chesson and Darboh. Perry is almost certain to miss the Orange Bowl, and his future with the team will likely be decided by the justice system.