Earlier this season, Michigan had to deal with the suspension of Jonas Mouton after he was caught sneaking in a quick sucker punch on a Notre Dame player. All of this was much to the chagrin of Rich Rodriguez, who had maintained that Mouton had not done anything wrong and would not be punished by the team. After that, RichRod became the conference’s most vigilant film studier, pointing out a questionable forearm shiver by Purdue’s Zach Reckman on a defenseless Northern Illinois player as that game ended. Out came the Big Ten Banhammer once again, and Reckman caught a one-game suspension from the conference. Video of both offending plays is after the break.
(Bussed-under Boiler to Rich Rod: MAD MUCH?)
Surprisingly, Reckman and Boilermaker head coach Danny Hope weren’t terribly impressed with Rodriguez’s involvement in Purdue’s disciplinary procedures and took it a little personally. So even as revenge is a dish best served on a scoreboard–Purdue 38, Michigan 36, in this instance–Hope and Reckman decided to make the most of the opportunity of meeting RichRod at midfield after the game. Commence catty slapfight ownage. From ANNARBOR.COM:
After the game, when Hope met Rodriguez at midfield for the traditional post-game handshake, he instead disrespected Rodriguez on his own 50-yard line and intensified a recent spat between the schools. “He came over and shook my hand, and then introduced me to (Zach) Reckman, and said, ‘Thanks coach. Really appreciate what you did,’” Rodriguez said. “Whatever.” “I was a little disappointed that after the game their coach seemed to bring the lineman over like I was the reason his lineman got suspended for that one game,” Rodriguez said. “I don’t know where that came from. … But what are you going to do? I usually go over and shake hands and tell you good luck in the next game. To come over and say something about that? Whatever.”
MREEEAAAAARRR! Kitties have claws! That’s how rivalries are born, people; it’s not merely a matter of geography, it’s slights, perceived or otherwise, and the steadfast refusal to ignore them, civility be damned. No, Michigan and Purdue don’t have a traveling trophy like Indiana and Purdue’s Old Oaken Bucket or the Little Brown Jug (Michigan and Minnesota), but now they’ve got something better - a reason to want to punch the other guy straight in the face. Say! speaking of punching people, we almost forgot: the unsportsmanlike offenses that touched all this off in the first place. Our apologies.
2:41 pm on November 9th, 2009
HAHA, need a tissue Richrod?
While the Purdue player was totally out of line and deserved his suspension, I don’t see anywhere on Richrod’s job description he needed to make the Big Ten aware of the situation. I’m sure they were already aware and the suspension was coming without his “help”.
Maybe he should focus on Mich business more, Purdue players dirty play less.
3:02 pm on November 9th, 2009
Paul Bunyan’s axe is contested between Wisconsin and Minnesota, not Michigan and Minnesota.
http://www.uwbadgers.com/sports/m-footbl/spec-rel/111803aaa.html
Michigan and Minnesota contest the Little Brown Jug.
http://www.gophersports.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=8400&ATCLID=271620
This is an example of why the mainstream media often looks down at blogs. I suggest that Adam J do a bit of research next time.
3:03 pm on November 9th, 2009
Uh, FYI, Paul Bunyan’s Axe is WISCONSIN and Minnesota, NOT MICHIGAN and Minnesota.
3:05 pm on November 9th, 2009
Oh, hell. And I’m a Big Ten boy too. Inexcusable. Thanks, guys.
3:19 pm on November 9th, 2009
Danny and Rexman, should both have learned a little history and they are the ones trying to make something of this. The press asked RichRod about Rexman’s swipe, and he just agreed that he thought the big ten would give it a similar action to Moulton’s, not to mention the BTN guys were talking about Moulton’s action being the same before RichRod made his comment. Let the Boilers try to make it something, it’ll just make the next 40 years until they win in Ann Arbor again that much more enjoyable.
8:52 pm on November 9th, 2009
Rich sucks.
9:10 am on November 10th, 2009
Blount of Oregon lost 8 games for 1 punch, Bryant of Oklahoma State suspended whole season for dinner with Deion, Purdue guy forearms another players helmet and gets a 1 game suspension. Brandon Spikes of Florida tries to intentionally blind a guy, lose half a game against Vandy.
Must be nice to have the NCAA on your side.
9:59 am on November 10th, 2009
@Gatorhater and nobody on the Georgia team got punished for repeatedly ripping off Spikes helmet and gouging him in the eye.
Must be nice to be the dirtiest team in college football and still have the NCAA on your side.
1:03 pm on November 10th, 2009
Soupy - obviously you and the rest of america have been so impressed by TT and Urban that you are blind to the fact that the kid is crap at QB. This is still the same Florida team that had to consider whether to remove a player from the team for using a DEAD Girls Credit Card. This is the same Florida team that schedules the likes of Charleston Southern, Troy and FIU and then tries to say that they have a tough schedule. Tebow is being considered for the Heisman when he is 8th in passing and 45th in total offense. And by the way, even if he was being eye gouged, why didnt he say anything to Urban about it or better yet come out to the press about it.
1:10 pm on November 10th, 2009
@ soupy nobody has to rip off Spike’s helmet. It just comes off. & I’ve yet to see him get gouged in the eye. His helmet came off and he got hit in the side of the head. he’s a cheap player and he did not even need to do that. he was winning, end of story.