Michigan State Spartans Jack Allen won't be punished for alleged eye gouging

 

 

Michigan State Spartans offensive lineman Jack Allen will not face any disciplinary action from the Big 10 for an alleged eye gouging incident in last week’s game against the Ohio State Buckeyes. Michigan State athletic director Mark Hollis indicated that the Big 10 said Allen did not violate the conference’s sportsmanlike conduct policy.

Ohio State sent a video into the Big 10 where it appeared Allen was trying to get his hand inside the face-mask of Buckeyes defensive lineman Johnathan Hankins. At the same time, however, it appeared Hankins was trying to get his hand into Allen’s face-mask. Hollis went on to concede that Allen’s actions were not a football play, but that they didn’t constitute eye gouging.

This was the second issue related to video that came to light after the Buckeyes 17-16 victory over the Spartans. Michigan State defensive coordinator Pat Narduzzi said the game tapes he received from Ohio State were incomplete and pre-snap motions and shifts were cutoff. There is a Conference rule that requires teams to share previous game tapes with their opponents prior to games. Ohio State coach Urban Meyer said he knew nothing of any tapes being altered or changed. Ultimately the issue was dealt with between the two schools and the Big 10 did not get involved.

These stories may be minor, but it certainly will go along way to create more of a rivalry between the two schools for future games, while giving the Conference a little more national exposure in the process. A quick and cold handshake after last week’s game by both coaches is a good indication that the two teams don’t like each other.

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