Jonas Mouton Suspended For Eastern Comment Count

Brian

Dave Revsine on the twitters:

Michigan's Jonas Mouton suspended one game for his actions last week vs. ND.

Okay, whatever, let's all move on.

Question: when did the conference get involved in these sorts of things, and can we retroactively suspend James Kamoku for a far more dangerous play?

Comments

formerlyanonymous

September 18th, 2009 at 6:14 PM ^

If RR isn't going to punish his player for blatantly punching a guy, then of course the BigTen should have that right. It's the chain of bureaucracy that is the NCAA. This isn't about holding. This is about physically trying to injure someone by punching him.

I'm totally fine with one game. If a coach isn't going to step up and say something, the next level of organization should step in for the guy who isn't getting his job done. RR totally denying this is not getting the job done. There was a punch. He could have lied out his ass saying Mouton would face extra conditioning during the week and not be suspended. RR could have said he's getting a one quarter suspension. He probably could have gotten away with ambiguously saying he won't start then put him in on the second play.

Instead, RR ignored the punch, said it didn't exist.

derpDerpDerp

September 18th, 2009 at 6:06 PM ^

It's one thing to be pissed off cause its unprecedented -- which clearly, as Sorgi and Breaston can attest, it is -- but whether or not this is the 'right thing' is an entirely different issue.

Mouton should be suspended. I don't want douchebaggery by our team to go unpunished, end of story.

And the Big Ten is only deserving of scorn if they don't maintain this going forward; if they've had a change of heart / policy, and are now going to punish those who are unpunished by their coaches, then great, I'm all for it.

But if a neuvo-Sorgi gets throat fucked again, and the Big Ten is napping, then scorn away.

Jeff H

September 18th, 2009 at 6:09 PM ^

It's not like the Big 11 could have done anything if the player was from ND. The conference should have stayed the hell out of this and, at best, sent a message to UM that something symbolic needed to be done.

I disagree, BTW, that he necessarily needed to do anything once the video "came out." I believe the quote was no "further" action would be taken. If that's accurate and some "action" was taken (even if just a stern "talking-to"), then the B-11 didn't need to step in.

DocV8

September 18th, 2009 at 7:14 PM ^

I wish the foul had been flagged during the game.
I wish RR would have done "something" by way of a statement, refering to stairs, Barwis-torture, or "internal discipline" appropriate to the offense.

And after neither of those things happened, I wish the B10 would have responded with private arm-twisting rather than public conviction. This is, in my opinion, just grandstanding and opportunism by the conference office. And it sets a bad precedent.

might and main

September 18th, 2009 at 6:29 PM ^

now I'm *really* looking forward to the nd game next year. I dunno, I never really hated nd before, I disliked them and all, but over the last few days I have developed a really healthy hatred for all things nd.

Cameron

September 18th, 2009 at 8:20 PM ^

The ND whining has been ridiculous. You get the sense that Michigan didn't get the memo that this season was supposed to see the real 'return to glory.'

Regardless of the whining, in this instance, ND was right on. I don't care that it hasn't been called in the past. I don't care that there wasn't a flag. I don't want the guys I root for throwing punches unless they were hit first. Mouton was out of line, and he should sit.

And, absolutely, this would have been better handled internally by Rodriguez. He drew a line in the sand at the Monday press conference when he said there would be no punishment, and there was no need to draw that line. Like another poster stated, he could have simply demurred and left it to an internal review.

You have to wonder if his frustration with criticism of his practice habits, his business practices, his mortgage, etc. merged with the criticism of the sportsmanship of one of his players. Because his response was peculiar. The former three were nuanced and nit-picky; the latter was a very valid criticism.

The best result of this situation: Fitzgerald is phenomenal on Saturday, and we're left with either greater depth, or a position battle.

Apologies for the long-windedness.

wiscwood

September 18th, 2009 at 7:02 PM ^

If the refs missed it should there be punishment? Is the NCAA trying to be like the NFL's Commish? Okay, he did punch the domer. Fortunately EMU is on the docket for Michigan. The back up better step up!!! No let downs in this game. The Wolverines understand what letdowns do, Michigan 45, EMU 14!

Alton

September 18th, 2009 at 7:17 PM ^

Unfortunately, this is a new rule for this season.

"Rule 9-6-3: Foul Not Called

If subsequent review of a game by a conference reveals plays involving flagrant personal fouls that game officials did not call, the conference may impose sanctions prior to the next scheduled game."

It's a strange rule, especially if this is how they are going to enforce it.

bronxblue

September 18th, 2009 at 7:23 PM ^

I'm fine with the punishment, though I would have like to see RR hand it down and not the NCAA. This just gives credence to ND's whining, which is something everyone in the NCAA should try to minimize.

sharkhunter

September 18th, 2009 at 7:24 PM ^

this will get more negative press than msu dantonio when he lets a player back on the roster after the dude beat the sh#t out of a hockey player, hospitalized him, essentially f#cked him up.

RR should have just been mum and said it is under review internally.

MCalibur

September 18th, 2009 at 7:40 PM ^

Delany will ultimately live to regret this. Coaches/ADs should have ultimate say in situations like this; especially when its unprecedented. From here forward, every unsavory incident (punch, kick, karate chop, an so on) on a football field must be met with a one game suspension or a tsunami of sewage will blast Delany in the face.

If this happened before, say, PSU v OSU and coach x decides a suspension of lower magnitude is appropriate for the same type of incident. How can Delany justify not over-riding the coach and installing a 1 game minimum? He can't. Anything less will rightly open him up to criticism from at least 3 teams/fanbases: Michigan, the team of the 'victim', and the team coach x is facing in the next game. Ultimately, this suspension is insignificant to tomorrow's game, yet Delany has invested HUGE amounts of political capital just to prance around on a high horse. He's cornered himself and that makes him an idiot. Flat out.

The right move would have been to denounce Rodriguez's decision then state that the Conference would step in if it is unsatisfied with the way coaches deal with similar incidents in the future. In that way he would've gotten his point across, and also sent the message to ADs everywhere...police your guys or we'll do it for you.

Maybe RichRod could've/should've handled this better but Delany just made himself one doozy of a bed.

V.O.R.

September 18th, 2009 at 7:54 PM ^

The suspension is bad no doubt about it. However, what is the most harmful aspect of any personal foul during a game is that the lack of self discipline hurts their own team.

I understand that at times emotions run high, but when a player says or does anything that kills their teams drive, or keeps the opponents drive going, or even gets themselves taken out of a game it hurts the team. Players have got to develop self control.

GoBlueBrooklyn

September 18th, 2009 at 8:38 PM ^

...I'm just glad they called an illegal block in the back and a personal foul for spearing a vulnerable player on the ground on Eric Olsen. Oh, wait. Two penalties on one play, no call.

I think one of the frustrations I feel (I won't speak for Mouton) is that the refs have to protect the players and let them know that penalties will be punished. Obviously a punch is never justified, never. But if you look at that play, Mouton is shoved to the ground from behind and then speared. I know how I'd feel.

mendrygal

September 18th, 2009 at 9:11 PM ^

That punch comes in at about a 2-3 on the 10 point scale of dirty stuff the refs don't see in the course of a game. Ask anyone who's been at the bottom of a scrum for a fumble, if they can talk after getting fish-hooked and eye-gouged. Let's have Hamburgler Weis at every college and pro game and tattle when anyone get's tackled too hard. That said, one game seems fair, especially against Eastern. We don't want to look like we condone that crap though, and end up like some of these other teams (Miami, Florida St, any team in Florida I guess).

Kilgore Trout

September 18th, 2009 at 9:28 PM ^

Gotta say I'm kind of disappointed in the reaction of the mgoblog community here. Punching an opponent is not ok under any circumstances. It deserves a suspension and if UM isn't going to do it, the Big Ten should. All the rest is just window dressing and rationalization. If the same play happened with the uniforms reversed, I guarantee this board would be calling for significant punishment. We all love UM, but take of the maize and blue glasses and be realistic.

Durham Blue

September 18th, 2009 at 10:07 PM ^

that Mouton needs to show restraint. He is an upperclassman and needs to lead by example. He made a mistake and that's fine, no big deal. But I think RR could've eliminated all controversy if he just acknowledged the situation and told the media that he would handle the matter internally. Hell, he doesn't even have to punish the kid. Just perform some simple lip service and the whole story would've died on the spot.

Jeffy Fresh

September 19th, 2009 at 8:26 AM ^

I am not condoning beating people on the streets, but this is football. If you ever played you would realize that this is a very intense and emotional game, where if you aren't going after the other player like he just assaulted your mom you probably will either find yourself on your back a lot or find yourself staring at the scoreboard and asking what happened. In the heat of the moment, jacking someone in the head is basically natural in this game. On the bottom of a pile when there is a fumble? Anyone holding onto that ball has a pair of balls that are fair game until they cough that thing up. Sorry to scare you guys that haven't played, but it's a frightening world on the field. The art is hiding it.

nazooq

September 18th, 2009 at 10:15 PM ^

The no call during the game was correct. Watch Mouton and Olsen carefully:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zPYueAc5XAE

After the play is over (but before the slo-mo and red arrow) when Mouton is on the ground, Olsen jumps on him, dropping his forearm on Mouton's chest and throat area. Olsen's hit may have been appropriate if Mouton were a ball carrier but under the circumstances, it is just as much a personal foul as Mouton's retaliation. I can see why RR is claiming Mouton was just trying to untangle himself.

Away Goal

September 18th, 2009 at 10:57 PM ^

punching a guy in a helmet in the face mask...might as well smacked him in the ass with a wiffle ball bat. You're not going to hurt the guy. Now if he had pulled a Marlin and clocked the guy with a bottle I would have A.) gotten excited and B.) understood a full game suspension.

Wish RR would have just addressed it and sat him for a half. It'll be a good opp for JB to get in and get some significant game exp.

kingcrow

September 18th, 2009 at 11:12 PM ^

There is no bigger Michigan and Rodriguez fan than I. But, Rodriguez should have known that Mouton's actions were worthy of a suspension and should have ordered it himself. Yet, he passes on it and the Big Ten takes action. He needs to think these things through. This is yet another blow to Michigan's credibility and makes it more likely that the NCAA will take action.

Bonamaphone

September 18th, 2009 at 11:35 PM ^

Unless you subscribe to Big Ten Network on cable, you will NOT be able to watch the game tomorrow(not on broadcast TV, not on ESPN, not even on ESPN360.com). Evidently, viewing this game is a luxury only privy to the rich elite that can afford indulgences (B-10 network) that the average Joe/Jane can not afford. Cartels suck. Delaney deserves an uppercut to the chin....Mouton, can you help us out here?

Nickel

September 18th, 2009 at 11:38 PM ^

I agree he should probably sit for a game, but I'll be curious to see if the Big 10 upholds this type of policy (punch = 1 game suspension) for the rest of the season. Frankly if you go through a game UFR style I'd be shocked to find a game that didn't have something similar to Mouton's punch in it.

Not saying the punch is okay of course, just that 18-22 year olds, emotional game, shoves/pushes to one side are going to look like a punch to the other team.

HHW

September 18th, 2009 at 11:49 PM ^

However, imagine all of the fodder this is going to provide Brian for the blog this season. As a matter of fact, Brian may want to get someone on staff to cut all of the plays each week that are worthy of the B10's attention.