Wisconsin athletic director Chris McIntosh released a powerful statement in response to the brawl this past Sunday.
After the Badgers spanked the Michigan Wolverines, Juwan Howard hit Wisconsin assistant Joe Krabbenhoft, which kicked off a massive melee. (RELATED: David Hookstead Is The True King In The North When It Comes To College Football)
Juwan Howard throws a punch. pic.twitter.com/HiC3y7yKvG
— Jeff Goodman (@GoodmanHoops) February 20, 2022
In response to the brawl, Howard was fined and suspended for the rest of the regular season, multiple players were suspended and Greg Gard was fined $10,000.
However, he’s not going to lose a penny of his own money.
Michigan’s Basketball Coach Gets A Laughable Punishment After Attacking An Opponent https://t.co/FPf5DcbYOq
— Daily Caller (@DailyCaller) February 22, 2022
“Our staff has my complete support, as do our student-athletes. I consider the $10,000 fine from the Big Ten to be a ‘Wisconsin fine’ and not a ‘Greg Gard fine.’ Wisconsin athletics will assume the responsibility for paying the fine,” McIntosh said in part Monday night after the punishments were handed out.
You can read his full statement below.
Statement from Wisconsin Athletics pic.twitter.com/Lyo5ai8uHf
— Wisconsin Badgers (@UWBadgers) February 22, 2022
I love this move from the Wisconsin athletic department. The fact Gard got fined is unbelievably stupid seeing as how Michigan caused the entire situation to get violent.
Here’s really good raw video of the aftermath of #Michigan and #Wisconsin. You can clearly hear Juwan Howard say “I’ll remember that” to Greg Gard prior to the altercation.
(Video courtesy of WKOW. Caution unedited, NSFW language.) pic.twitter.com/27N2q1OD8I
— Jeanna Trotman (@JeannaTrotmanTV) February 20, 2022
McIntosh has to make it clear he has the backs of the guys he’s responsible for, and that’s exactly what he’s doing by paying Gard’s fine.
He’s sending a message to the entire conference that you’re not going to walk into Madison and cause problems and expect no repercussions.
New Angle Shows Insane Carnage Of The Wisconsin/Michigan Brawl https://t.co/qhxH4nGKjp
— Daily Caller (@DailyCaller) February 22, 2022
I’m a Wisconsin man, and I’m damn proud of McIntosh for this decision. We won’t back down or be intimidated. Unfortunately for Michigan, they had to learn that the hard way.