On Thursday, the Big Ten announced that MSU football (3-2 overall, 0-1 Big Ten) redshirt freshman offensive guard Jack Allen will not face disciplinary action following the conference’s review of Saturday’s game against Ohio State.
Ohio State asked the conference to review film of a play, where Allen was accused of eye-gouging Ohio State defensive tackle Johnathan Hankins, when it was shown that Allen’s hand appeared to reach inside Hankins’ helmet.
MSU athletics director Mark Hollis released a statement in the Big Ten’s announcement, agreeing with the ruling.
“Michigan State values and respects the Big Ten’s sportslike conduct policy, and both parties take any alleged violations of the agreement very seriously,” Hollis said.
“There are procedures in place to review any alleged violations of the policy. After a thorough review, the Big Ten has determined that MSU offensive lineman Jack Allen didn’t violate the conference’s sportslike conduct policy.”
“As athletics director, I had an opportunity to be involved in this review process and while his actions ‘weren’t a football play,’ this clearly wasn’t an eye-gouging incident.”
MSU football head coach Mark Dantonio said on Tuesday that he had not been in contact with the Big Ten and said he didn’t see anything inappropriate during that play.
“My review of the play saw two players get up after the play and walk back to the huddle,” Dantonio said. “Probably a little something going on with both of them. If you look at the play cleanly, that’s what you see. … Neither seemed to be very bothered by it after the play.”
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