A lawyer representing a suspended Michigan State football player alleges a Michigan player started one of the Oct. 29 postgame altercations in the tunnel.
David Diamond, a California-based attorney who spoke with MLive on Tuesday afternoon, said the Michigan player put his helmet on and his head down as if he was going to “charge” at Michigan State players in the tunnel after the Wolverines won 29- 7 in a heated rivalry game.
“It’s our claim that he tried to throw the first punch,” Diamond said. “Whether it connected or not, we’re not there yet.”
Diamond would not identify the Michigan State player he is representing nor the Michigan player he alleges threw the first punch as the University of Michigan Police Department continues to lead the investigation, which could result in criminal charges.
Melissa Overton, deputy chief of police and public information officer for the University of Michigan Police, told MLive on Tuesday they hope to have the investigation completed by the end of the week.
“Right now, I’m not going to name the (Michigan) player but we will in due time,” Diamond said. “We’ll release our independent investigative report.”
Eight Michigan State players were suspended indefinitely for their roles in the incidents following the loss at Michigan. The teams were separated on the field and two Michigan players – defensive backs Gemon Green and Ja’Den McBurrows – went up the tunnel at the same time as the Spartans.
Although it’s still unclear what started the altercations, video evidence shows Michigan State defensive back Khary Crump swinging his helmet at Green. Michigan State linebacker/defensive end Jacoby Windmon put his helmet back on and engaged with Green while he was being hit. (Diamond said his unnamed client was not involved in swinging a helmet.)
In a separate incident, McBurrows