Very little went well for Michigan State during Saturday’s game against Michigan. When Mike Sainristil’s pick-six gave the Wolverines a 35-0 lead in the third quarter, things went from bad to worse for the Spartans — and not just on the scoreboard.
During the return, Michigan State offensive lineman Spencer Brown was engaged in physicality with Michigan defensive end, Braiden McGregor. McGregor ended up on the ground, which should have ended the physicality. Only, it didn’t.
Because while McGregor was face down on the ground, Brown speared him, going helmet-to-helmet.
A dirty and inexcusable play from Michigan State's Spencer Brown.
Disgusting. pic.twitter.com/tovcUf8JoG
— Trevor Woods (@WoodsFootball) October 22, 2023
Unsurprisingly, Brown was ejected from the game.
Also unsurprisingly, he was heavily (and rightly) criticized for such a blatant, unmistakable dirty play.
This is nothing new. Michigan isn’t the perfect picture it paints itself to be but Michigan State’s been dirty since Will Gholston was throwing haymakers.
Every year, every game; a Spartan does something absolutely wild and, somehow, Tom Izzo will be the voice of reason. https://t.co/wCc9eqhobt
— Brandon Justice (@BrandonJustice_) October 22, 2023
Throw him off the team. Embarrassing and disgusting. I’m fully out on all of this. https://t.co/0EmbCxB3pi
— Cedar Village Bagel (@CVBagel) October 22, 2023
Horrible stuff here from Michigan State's Spencer Brown during their rivalry game against Michigan….definite suspension incoming. 😱
Unacceptable. #CollegeFootball
pic.twitter.com/RKcGkLLOaN— The Sports Forum (@DenverForum) October 22, 2023
Literally one of the worst things you can do on a football field. https://t.co/XO81fTKoXE
— Eric Lloyd (@EricLloyd) October 22, 2023
I get that MSU is being dominated, but that’s one of the worst type of dirty plays you can make. https://t.co/vHzp0EBc0x
— Michael Kowalsky (@MLKowalsky17) October 22, 2023
Spencer Brown is so stupid, glad he got ejected
— Daily MSU (@daily_msu) October 22, 2023
Through the course of a play, things are going to happen. Football is a physical game and sometimes some rough play might go on well away from the action. Having said that, this is impossible to defend.
Everything that happened through McGregor falling to the ground is completely understandable. But once McGregor is on the ground, the fight — for at least that play — is over. Making matters worse is the fact that Brown speared him completely from behind. McGregor had no chance to do anything that might have lessened the impact.
Fortunately, the cheap shot didn’t seem to produce any serious injuries. But it’s hard to imagine Brown not facing further discipline from this.
[Trevor Woods, Photo Credit: NBC]