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Michigan State Spartans players were incensed on Saturday after members of the Michigan Wolverines reportedly drove a stake into the turf in East Lansing prior to the Saturday's contest between the teams.
Per Kevin McGuire of NBC's College Football Talk, "Michigan State head coach Mark Dantonio was not happy about the behavior either, and he made that point clear with his postgame remarks. Dantonio fired some shots at the leadership of the Michigan football program, which led to Michigan head coach Brady Hoke offering an apology to Dantonio and Michigan State on Sunday."
“I want to publicly apologize to Coach Dantonio as well as the players and supporters of Michigan State for our act of poor sportsmanship displayed pre-game yesterday,” Hoke said. “I spoke with Mark earlier today and expressed to him that we meant no disrespect to his team.”
Hoke also explained that the stake is a symbol of team unity, claiming he was unaware that senior Joe Bolden (or another Michigan player) had taken the stake out onto Michigan State's field. Per multiple reports, Bolden was seen driving the stake into the ground surrounded by Wolverines players who proceeded to stare straight at the Michigan State sideline.
“During our regular Friday night team meeting, one of the topics presented to motivate our team was a history lesson addressing commitment and teamwork in a tough environment,” Hoke offered. “A tent stake was presented to the team as a symbol of this concept. The stake was brought into our locker room as a visual reminder, and one of our team leaders chose to take it out on the field. As the leader of our football program, I take full responsibility for the actions of our team."
"We believe in displaying a high level of respect at the University of Michigan and unfortunately that was not reflected by this action prior to kickoff.”
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