Statements from Michigan State University and Spartan Athletics

Joint Statement from Michigan State Vice President and Director of Athletics Alan Haller and Michigan State Head Football Coach Mel Tucker - Tuesday, Nov. 1
Michigan State University athletics and the football program are committed to the highest level of sportsmanship. As we continue to gather and review electronic evidence of the altercations between Michigan State and University of Michigan student-athletes on October 29, 2022, we are suspending student-athletes Malcolm Jones, Justin White, Jacoby Windmon and Brandon Wright. The suspensions are effective immediately.

We are transparently working with law enforcement and the Big Ten Conference to evaluate additional facts and evidence surrounding the events in Ann Arbor. We will continue to take appropriate action in this matter as we learn more. The student-athlete suspensions will remain in place until the investigations are completed.

The health and safety of our student-athletes, coaches, personnel, and the Spartan community is our number one priority.

Thank you for your continued collaboration and support as we move forward together.

Statement from Michigan State Head Football Coach Mel Tucker - Sunday, Oct. 30
Michigan State University football core values include integrity, discipline, unselfishness, toughness and accountability. After reviewing the disturbing electronic evidence collected to date of the altercations between Michigan State and the University of Michigan student-athletes on October 29, 2022, we are suspending Tank Brown, Khary Crump, Angelo Grose, and Zion Young effective immediately.

We are currently working with law enforcement, Michigan State and Michigan campus leadership, and the Big Ten Conference to further evaluate the events in Ann Arbor, including but not limited to, additional student-athlete participation in the altercations and contributing factors. The initial student-athlete suspensions will remain in place until the investigations are completed.

The health and safety of our student-athletes, coaches, personnel, and the Spartan community remain our priority. You have my promise that we are committed to fairness, transparency and accountability, and that we will continue to take appropriate action in this matter. Our core values and the responsibility that comes with wearing the State green and white jersey must never be compromised.

Thank you to our athletics department and football staff, alumni, partners, the conference, and fans for your continued collaboration and support as we move forward together.

Go Green.

Statement from Michigan State Vice President and Director of Athletics Alan Haller - Sunday, Oct. 30
Michigan State University, our athletics department and football program represent the highest ethical, academics and athletics standards. Based on the alarming evidence that Coach Mel Tucker and I have been provided involving a small number of our football student-athletes and University of Michigan student-athletes at Michigan Stadium, we are in alignment that it is necessary to take preliminary action and suspend four football student-athletes. The behavior we reviewed was both uncharacteristic of our football program and unacceptable.

On behalf of our university and athletics department, I have been in consistent contact with University of Michigan Athletics Director Warde Manuel and Big Ten Conference Commissioner Kevin Warren in addition to members of our Spartan family to offer our apologies and to ensure our collaboration with law enforcement as they conduct investigations into this matter.

Thank you to the Michigan State supporters and alumni for your support and faith in the Spartans and our football program as we work to ensure this type of behavior never happens again.

Statement from Michigan State President Samuel L. Stanley Jr., M.D. - Sunday, Oct. 30
I'm extremely saddened by this incident and the unacceptable behavior depicted by members of our football program. On behalf of Michigan State University, my heartfelt apology to the University of Michigan and the student athletes who were injured.

There is no provocation that could justify the behavior we are seeing on the videos. Rivalries can be intense but should never be violent.

Coach Tucker will be holding the players involved responsible, and our football team and university will be cooperating with all related investigations by law enforcement and the Big Ten Conference.

Statements from Michigan State University and Spartan Athletics

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