Michigan AD admonishes fans after punter gets death threats
Michigan interim athletic director Jim Hackett issued a letter Sunday to Wolverines fans after hateful comments were sent to punter Blake O’Neill following the team’s 27-23 heart-breaking and shocking last-second loss to Michigan State.
There were reports that O’Neill received death threats on social media.
With 10 seconds left in the game and the Wolverines leading 23-21, O’Neill tried to kick the ball away to ice the victory. But he dropped the low snap and as he tried to corral the ball and kick it, he was hit by Michigan State safeties Matt Morrissey and Grayson Miller.
The ball shot into the hands of redshirt freshman safety Jalen Watts-Jackson, who took off for the end zone. Watts-Jackson and a convoy of Spartans went 38 yards and crossed the goal line as the clock showed zero, giving Michigan State its seventh win in the last eight games against its top rival.
After the game, O’Neill received a number of hate-filled mentions on social media Saturday night.
“I’m asking that our community not lose this game twice by condoning thoughtless comments,” Hackett said in the letter. “…Today I awake to the shocking reality that our community who care so much about this program would send hurtful, spiteful and vicious comments to one of our students. To be clear, such comments come from a small minority, none of whom are reflective of our institution.”
After the game, Michigan coach Jim Harbaugh described the play:
“Mistakes were made on that field … once he bobbled it a few times, should have just fell on it. So, mistakes were made. Very unfortunate circumstances.”
Hero has surgery
Michigan State hero Watts-Jackson, who was injured in the celebration after scoring the winning touchdown against rival Michigan with no time remaining, had surgery Sunday to repair a fractured hip.
The redshirt freshman backup defensive back broke his hip in the end zone after returning a fumbled punt snap 38 yards on the final play to give the Spartans an improbable victory at Michigan Stadium in Ann Arbor, Mich.
Spartans coach Mark Dantonio said Watts-Jackson had surgery in Ann Arbor on Sunday morning.
Watts-Jackson was mobbed by celebrating teammates in the corner of the end zone and was unable to stand up after the pile on top of him cleared. He was placed on a stretcher and taken to University Hospital after the game.
