Taylor Lewan Under Investigation For Assault

Submitted by Bando Calrissian on

AnnArbor.com/MLive have confirmed yesterday's report by Bucknuts.com that Taylor Lewan is under investigation by the Ann Arbor Police Department for his possible role in a fight outside the Brown Jug the evening of the Ohio State game. While they're not going as far as the Bucknuts story, it looks like this might have some legs.

http://www.mlive.com/news/ann-arbor/index.ssf/2013/12/police_investigat…

Police confirmed Lewan, a projected NFL first-round draft pick, was in the area of a fight involving Ohio State University fans about 12:30 a.m. Dec. 1 in the 1200 block of South University Avenue, but his level of involvement had not been determined as of Dec. 23.
Lewan has not been arrested and no charges have been filed in the incident. Police confirmed an investigation is taking place into the incident, but would not confirm any further details into the incident.

GoWings2008

December 24th, 2013 at 8:50 AM ^

there wasn't a whole lot to talk about, but there isn't much more with this update.  Honestly, after reading the bucknuts story, and many here agreed, something didn't seem quite right about the whole thing.  Possibly it was sensationalized for the osu rag's sake and we were only getting one side of the story.  I'm SURE the two alleged victims didn't have anything to do with egging him on.

"We didn't know it was Taylor Lewan."

Really??  So, you're gonna go with that angle? 

Tuebor

December 24th, 2013 at 8:51 AM ^

Bucknuts story makes no sense because it claims that Lewan was wearing a "red polo".  Michigan men would not wear red, especially the night after the OSU game.

bacon1431

December 24th, 2013 at 9:24 AM ^

It takes about 3 hours and 19 minutes to get from AA to Cbus. He'll probably go faster than 70/65 on the highway. So that lessens time. And depending on where his hotel is and where he lives or works, it adds some time to that general mapquest I did. And responsble people usually show up to work a little bit early.

So this guy is not too bright or responsible. Out getting drunk (and let's be honest, there's no way he wasn't inebriated at least a bit at the time) 8 hours before you are supposed to leave and 11 hours before you have to work.

Everyone Murders

December 24th, 2013 at 9:58 AM ^

You don't find it a bit counterintuitive that Lewan would pop on a red polo after a heartbreaking loss to Ohio State?  I don't think anyone meant "it's physically impossible that Lewan would wear a red polo" - it just seems a bit unlikely.  Who knows - maybe he wagered a friend that if Michigan lost he'd wear a red shirt all night and he's a man who honors his bets.  But dismissing disbelief that Lewan was rocking a red shirt that night as "silly" seems a bit rude.

Anyway, my sense from looking at the report is that the victims here are not quite as innocent as they are making themselves out to be.  Experience has taught me that often the "victim" in a fight is code for the "loser" of said fight, and quite often an instigator.  Shit-talking often ends up in an ass-whipping, especially after midnight near campus bars.  And OSU fans walking around after midnight down South U. have a decent likelihood of talking shit.  (Not that shit-talking means you deserve a beating.  But - to paraphrase Chris Rock - if you talk shit and get a beating, I understand.)

Also, if a fight did occur, give credit to the intervening students.  I can imagine that sort of fight going down much more poorly for the victim in most situations.

rbgoblue

December 24th, 2013 at 10:58 AM ^

If the OSU fans had just gone out from their hotel for a bite to eat, why were they on South U?  Seems like if they were looking for food and not to stir up trouble they wouldnt have chosen a crowded undergrad area known for its bars that is ridiculously far away from any hotels.

Benoit Balls

December 24th, 2013 at 11:22 AM ^

wear red, ever.  Not a joke, I am completely serious.  I bought a new driver this summer (Callaway X-Hot) and the only color it comes in is grey with red accents. I had the head re-sprayed so that I would not have that color combination anywhere near my golf bag. And I havent put even 1% as much into Michigan football as Taylor Lewan, so it does seem rather unlikely. However, just because they may have wanted to ameliorate their story by adding these "details" it may not change the fact that there could be some substance to this.

ZB75

December 25th, 2013 at 9:31 AM ^

I dont own a single piece of red clothing.  About a month after we were first married my wife bought me  a red t shirt.  Needless to say, I never wore it and it was banished from the house very quickly. 

Autostocks

December 24th, 2013 at 8:57 AM ^

I wanted to fight some of those aholes that night too.  If I was Taylor Lewan I might have.

But what difference does it make?  Other than his pro career, and I wish him the best obviously, he's got one more fairly meaningless game in a Michigan uniform.

 

jtmc33

December 24th, 2013 at 9:22 AM ^

He was "in the area of a fight"!!!!

That should be at least a year in jail.

I so heard he was a passenger in a car once that was going 45 in a 35. Fine him.

PeterKlima

December 24th, 2013 at 9:24 AM ^

Lewan was in the area + Bucknuts allegations = an investigation.



So, this is becoming a story because some Bucknuts tan into Lewan?



I can't wait to give this kind of bad press by running miller after the game next year.

clarkiefromcanada

December 24th, 2013 at 1:52 PM ^

I'm not exactly trusting these guys and their credibility as a fanbase recalling:

  Carlos "no charges" Hyde and his three week vacation after "allegedly" striking a woman. Quickly forgotten.

Bradley Roby didn't really assault anyone in Bloomington, IN just put himself in a "bad situation". Fanbase doesn't care.

 Tat Gate (enough said)

Montreal Alouttes quarterback Troy Smith's walking around money

Clarett, Dan Herron, DeVier Posey, Jordan Whiting, Mewhort...Jeebus, they got Jake Stoneburner pissing between buildings. None of it matters from the assaults to the money to the misdemeanors to the marijuana to the tats to the cars.

Their fanbase there only cares about winning, will forgive pretty much any misdemeanor and have zero credibility. Let's reserve judgment until some facts come out.

 

 

Shaun

December 24th, 2013 at 3:32 PM ^

It looks like you put a lot of effort into this post, but what does it have to do with the topic at hand?

It appears that your line of reasoning goes: several OSU players have gotten into legal issues, ranging from no charges to misdemeanors, and some others have gotten into NCAA issues.

Due to this, and their fans "not caring" about these incidents, this report should be given zero credibility. Is that correct?

I totally agree on waiting for the facts to come out before judging, but I just don't see why all of the justification of "we are the good guys and they are the bad guys" is necessary.

It doesnt seem relevant and it seems that many fans cling to this idea of fan base superiority to hang their hats on. You only need look around this thread to see various posters insinuating that the OSU fans deserved anything they got, etc.

The fan bases are not that different, so it seems that sides should hold off from trying to claim moral high ground.

clarkiefromcanada

December 24th, 2013 at 4:27 PM ^

If you've read the coverage on the Ohio blogs on this matter you'd think Lewan was plainly guilty and should be immediately convicted. I provided that (abbreviated, btw) list to speak to the concept of Ohio fan credibility. As a group they've been quick to put aside each of those incidents, among others.

FWIW, I am giving this event little credibility until the facts come out. I don't think this is a question of "we're the good guys/they are the bad guys" but more about credibility within that fanbase. The response of their boards and fanbase to immediately convict Lewan sure runs counter to their reaction to their hero Carlos Hyde (who did hit a woman who just decided not to press charges).

Ohio based ten years of essential dominance on lying, cheating, cash payments, tats and marijuana. And their school held a ten year anniversary of the MNC and invited two of the key perpetrators (one being a coach restricted from NCAA participation in football). The fan bases are absolutely different, the administrations are absolutely different, the morality is absolutely different.

Shaun, Michigan is the good guys...and unfortunately this approach has led to too many losses vs. our cheating rivals and their complicit fanbase.

clarkiefromcanada

December 25th, 2013 at 12:08 AM ^

Dominick, the Ohio State fanbase reaction to their team/administration's past conduct is absolutely relevant in the immediate situation. You have a fanbase that has not simply supported a culture of "anything to win" lying/cheating/drugs/tats/payments but actually been complicit in it. Jim Tressell didn't provide Terelle Pryor cars/tats but he looked the other way when boosters gave them to him. Gordon Gee didn't give fake construction jobs to players in Cleveland. Ohio State boosters did. Of course,Gee hoped, in the fallout, that Tressel wouldn't fire him. And what did all of this corruption lead to? All the lies, all the lost credibility? It led to a bunch of wins against a Michigan program that was castigated for *stretching* violations. It led to a fanbase that didn't simply tolerate a culture of cheating but one that openly celebrated it. It led to a slap on the wrist from the NCAA, the "Ohio Statement" and it led to Urbz.

The Ohio fanbase looked the other way through all of this and continues to do so. This is their collective narrative where concepts of truth and credibility, generalizably, are not material to them. 

Their past conduct, clearly, is absolutely relevant here in that the school and their fanbase's credibility is limited.

Innocent until proven otherwise. Dominick, that is the target.

Shaun

December 24th, 2013 at 11:59 PM ^

I'm just trying to point out that, if you take a step back and look at this situation, Michigan fans aren't really acting any better than the OSU fans that you are pointing a finger at.

When a Michigan player is accused, many Michigan fans try to poke holes in the story or else just loudly exclaim that the fans must have deserved what they got. OSU fans assume guilt and make out Lewan to be the devil.

Reverse the situation and you would likely see the same reaction, just switching the fanbases.

Fans are fans, and Michigan fans aren't magically better or more morally in the right than any other. Look at these comments and you will find fans applauding assault and comparing entire fanbases to pedophiles.

Also, if you think that OSU has been consistently beating Michigan over the past decade plus because of tattoos or peeing in alleys then I just can't help you. The games are won by players and coaches, and Michigan players have committed crimes of their own (whether or not this one turns out to be true). Just look at the recruiting battles that OSU and Michigan have, and you can tell that they are recruiting the same players, so the argument that Michigan only recruits "Michigan Men" simply doesn't hold water. Until this incident, many would probably call Lewan a true "Michigan Man." 

I just want to point out that, by labeling huge groups of people with the same brush, you are acting the same way as the opposing fans that you are calling out. There are good Michigan fans and bad Michigan fans, good OSU fans and bad OSU fans. Who are the "good" guys and who are the "bad" guys simply depends on which side of the rivalry you fall. There are many here praising violence against others based on this arbitrary divider, which I would hope a fanbase like Michigan's, one which claims to hold itself to a higher standard, would find disgusting and unacceptable.

clarkiefromcanada

December 25th, 2013 at 12:22 AM ^

Shaun, would even Dave Brandon invite a shamed and NCAA exiled former head coach to take part in a "celebration" of a ten year championship anniversary?

Ohio State did. And their capacity crowd gave the man a standing ovation. 

That's their fanbase.

Shaun, if you don't think that paying literally dozens of players, giving them improper benefits, cars, tats, access to marijuana, jobs from boosters impacted the competitive balance then I cannot help you. 

As to Michigan's "higher standard" how long was the progam dissociated from Chris Webber and how long did Fab 5 reconciliation take? Oh, right, never truly happened. How about those fab 5 final 4 banners? Did Steve Fisher and Jalen, CWebb et al. get a celebration of their final 4 ten years later?

E. Gordon Gee

December 25th, 2013 at 11:11 AM ^

I love how you try to paint an entire fan base with a label of acceptance for their previous coach behavior,  players, Urbz and their actions when in contrary,  others in the minority, like myself, aren't acceptive of what's happened. Yes we are all proud that Marcus issued the double birds to the Michigan crowd in the Big House s

aying fuck you. We're all proud of the tatted 5 and their actions to sell the things that they along with their other teammates worked for. We are glad that Hyde was back on the team after his actions at Sugar Bar or after Roby punched a bouncer in Bloomington. We were all cheering in the stands for Tressel. Yeah, because the only thing that matters in Columbus is winning. WIN AT ALL COST. JUST WIN BABY!!!! No need to label what things I've personally disagree with as it probably won't matter. I think you should reread Shaun's post in which he proves its ignorant to denigrate an entire fanbase, but what the hell. You're a Michigan fan, you'll have your judgements.

Also, show me a list of the dozens of players paid, that received improper benefits, cars, tats, jobs from boosters, and access to marjuiana, and I'll show you a roster of kids instrumental in beating Michigan 11 of the last 13 years. Competitive advantage my ass. Part of the problem isn't just the players you get, it's the coaching too which is a twofold street. That is unless you don't think there were Michigan Men in the program at the time as coaches and players. Maybe the Leaders and Best didn't execute or play "Michigan football" in that time frame either. Rich Rod fault...

/smartass :)

Merry Christmas!

clarkiefromcanada

December 26th, 2013 at 12:11 AM ^

Improper benefits at Ohio State...The Names



Melvin Fellows

Etiienne Sabino

Marcus Hall

Dan Herron

DeVier Posey

Mike Adams

Solomon Thomas

Jordan Hall

Corey Pittsburgh Brown

Travis Howard

Terelle Pryor

Troy Smith

Maurice Clarett

Marco Cooper



I can only think of 14 off the top of my head...you must be right; obviously having the equivalent of Bobby DiGeronimo paying players for fake work could never have impacted competitive advantage. No paid five stars here...





Scarlatina

December 25th, 2013 at 12:09 AM ^

Can anyone show me an angle of the video where Carlos Hyde clearly "hit a woman who just decided not to press charges?"

All the videos I've seen are inconclusive at best because it was so grainy. IIRC the bouncer of the bar said that the woman hit Hyde in the back of the head as he was walking away, and he turned around by pushed her away by the face.

From my experience, whenever a woman gets hit, no matter the context, social conditioning causes at least 1 male to jump to the aid of the woman. While it isn't the best evidence of whether or not Hyde violently hit the woman, I really don't see "White Knights" jumping to help her.

clarkiefromcanada

December 25th, 2013 at 12:30 AM ^

No charges filed. Yet the university somehow saw fit to suspend him initially "indefinitely" then for 3 games due to conduct not representative of this football program or this university. That would be the hitting a woman part. Just because the woman didn't charge him doesn't mean he is innocent. Innocent players don't get suspended.

Statement:

"Carlos Hyde will be suspended for at least the first three games of the 2013 season for conduct not representative of this football program or this university. He will be required to fulfill additional obligations before he is allowed to play in a game.”

Scarlatina

December 25th, 2013 at 1:49 AM ^

Urban did, with the reasoning that Hyde should've known better than to be in that situation at all.

Hyde knew the alleged victim, she was apparently a female that had "relations" with him on multiple occasions and did not take it kindly when Hyde told her it was over. That is what Hyde and the woman were arguing about on the stage. Hyde was supposedly yelling that she was crazy, needed to leave him alone and that he was done with her.

Ultimately, Hyde still disrespected a woman by calling her out like that in public, and considering that's one of Urban's "big no-no's" it could be why the suspension was so heavy handed.

 

Now, I don't completely rule out the scenario that Hyde did hit her since the video is unclear, but my observation is that MGoBlog seems to be the only place that treats that version as an undeniable fact. Granted, I personally believe that Hyde yelled at her, she got pissed, hit him, and he turned around to push her away without consciously holding back the strength one would except of a 235lbs D1 athlete. 

freejs

December 25th, 2013 at 1:55 AM ^

So Urban was respecting his wife when he banged a co-ed? Gtfo with that Buckeye propaganda.

I've seen the video and it doesn't look a damn thing like the version of events you're selling. Hyde doesn't seem to know the girls on the stage - or know any one of them from any other - as he keeps looking back to his boys and pointing at the women for clarification. Also, the guy who shines the flashlights on the girls' asses is the creepiest dude ever.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S9i9Ze_KG8A

clarkiefromcanada

December 25th, 2013 at 2:10 AM ^

You run that game with your semantics and your Buckeye apologism. Take that crap back to 11W or wherever you came from. 

Urban doesn't suspend anyone without approval from Gene. Well, unless Gene doesn't want Urbz firing him, too.

Your guy was in the wrong there but it isn't easy living in CBus after charging a Buckeye. The accuser would have been accutely aware of the same.

Hell, ask a "real Buckeye" like Herbstreit how reasonable the Ohio fanbase can be...

Decisions indeed, apologist.

03 Blue 07

December 25th, 2013 at 6:16 PM ^

Clarkie, God bless you. This is exactly what grinds my gears about OSU (and, really, the NCAA): Basically, they've cheated for 10 years, got "penalized" (but still won a national championship and played for another), and would do it all over again (which tells you the punishment wasn't harsh enough; how many people who go to jail for a crime say "yeah, I'd do that again"? Not many). It's not that the NCAA is right or wrong (the NCAA is ridiculous), it's that all members agree to follow the damn rules. 

Their cheating has (in my mind) given them a competetive advantage; I know that recruits seeing guys driving ridiculous cars has an impact on recruiting, for one thing. And the shittiest part about all of it is that their cheating has directly caused a competetive advantage that has manifested itself on the field, in at least two games (14-9 loss at OSU in 2002; 42-39 loss at OSU in 2006) that, in my mind, Michigan wins if Ohio doesn't have said improper competetive advantage (Clarett in 2002; Troy Smith in 2006). Well said by you. 

Jimmyisgod

December 24th, 2013 at 9:26 AM ^

Taylor Lewan has been a great Wolverine, but he has not exactly made us proud in the last couple months with his poor decisions on and off the field.  Maybe these guys were egging him on, maybe they weren't, but Lewan is a team captain and he should not be getting involved in this type of thing no matter what his involvment was.