CFB: Michigan State coach says it’s a traumatic experience’ for football
By Shannon Shelton
Detroit Free Press
EAST LANSING, Mich. — Michigan State coach Mark Dantonio said Saturday that he still did not know all of the details of the altercation two weeks ago at a fraternity potluck dinner, an event in which at least 10 of his players were present.
Dantonio said he had not seen the video from a security camera that was believed to show at least some of what transpired at Rather Hall. He said he was not initially told by some of his players about their presence at the event. And he said he did not know whether there would be more suspensions. (MSU has said campus police still were trying to identify five men at the scene.)
“At this point, we’re going to allow the investigation to continue and the process to take its course,” Dantonio said at a news conference Saturday. “We also must recognize that there’s a lot of speculation out there from the public and a lot of different stories floating around, and I think it’s important that we get to the truth.”
On the night of Nov. 22, about 90 minutes after MSU’s season-ending banquet, witnesses said 15 to 20 men stormed into an Iota Phi Theta potluck. Witnesses told police that some of the men assaulted and injured some of the attendees, including some women.
An attendee, junior Brent Mitchell, has said some wore ski masks. He also has said he went to the hospital after being punched in the face. According to Mitchell and Mark Dell Sr., the father of suspended wide receiver Mark Dell, the altercation lasted about a minute.
“I am very, very disappointed,” Dantonio said. “I am extremely disappointed. We talk all of time about our choices as people and about making the right choice. I think it’s a very traumatic experience for this program. We’ve got to be able to get past this situation. I also think it’s extremely devastating for the families that were involved in this. ... A lot of people are reeling. My heart goes to those people for what they are going through as well.”
After police finish their investigation — which MSU spokesman Terry Denbow said should be early this week — Ingham County Prosecutor Stuart Dunnings III would decide what charges, if any, to pursue and against whom.
Whatever is determined, however, Dantonio made it clear that the eight players suspended Tuesday after being identified at the scene from video evidence and interviews would not play in MSU’s bowl, which will be announced today.
The players are receivers Dell, B.J. Cunningham and Fred Smith, cornerback Chris L. Rucker, running back Ashton Leggett, linebacker Brynden Trawick, defensive tackle Ishmyl Johnson and defensive end Jamiihr Williams.
Two players also at the scene, sophomore running back Glenn Winston and junior safety Roderick Jenrette, were kicked off the team Nov. 24. Dantonio said their dismissals were permanent, citing a “zero tolerance” policy for players receiving second chances. Winston had spent four months in jail for misdemeanor aggravated assault against an MSU hockey player, and Jenrette was asked to take a leave of absence in 2008 to handle personal issues.
Dantonio was asked about a comment from Board of Trustees chairman Joel Ferguson, who said the suspended players were punished for lying to the coach, not for fighting.
“I will say they needed to come forth sooner than they did and leave it at that,” Dantonio said. “They put themselves at risk by going there, and given the opportunity they had to immediately come to me and tell me there was a problem, it didn’t happen. So it was two reasons, and either is sufficient enough to be in this situation to be suspended.”
Dantonio compared the situation to a hurricane:
“I would describe this, as I said to our football team last week, it’s like a hurricane. A hurricane blew in, and Thanksgiving there was a little bit of an eye of the storm, and I told them, they’d better brace up, because the end of the storm’s pushing through this week and that’s exactly where we’re at with this thing. And hopefully, the sun’s going to come out here soon, and we’ll be able to resolve this and we’ll be able to move forward.”