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University of Michigan athletics director Warde Manuel called ESPN college football analyst Kirk Herbstreit ‘crazy’ for baselessly suggesting that the Wolverines could try using COVID-19 as a excuse to avoid playing at Ohio State next week.
“I think that’s ridiculous,” Manuel said Wednesday of comments from Herbstreit, a former Ohio state quarterback. “I have to take a break because my words, the anger… I was furious at the implication that Michigan would do anything other than play a game of football.
“To imply that, to say something other than that, is a statement of a fool,” Manuel said.
Manuel’s aftershock came as Michigan was forced to cancel its game against Maryland on Saturday due to the increase in COVID-19 cases within the program, further endangering what is commonly referred to as “The Game” between Wolverines and Buckeyes.
On Tuesday night, Herbstreit said on ESPN: “I still think Michigan is waving the white flag and potentially avoiding playing at Ohio State next week.”
His reasoning was that by canceling the game, Michigan, who is 2-4 and has nothing to play, would be able to injure their biggest rival who has won 15 of the last 16 games between the two schools.
Without playing in Michigan, the state of Ohio, having already missed two games this season for COVID-19 reasons, would not be able to reach the six games necessary to qualify for the Big Ten game. Championship.
And without the conference title game on his resume, Ohio State’s chances of making the four-team college football playoff would take a huge hit.
Accusing a team of using COVID-19 as a disguise to postpone or cancel a game is not unprecedented. Last month, Clemson’s No.3 head coach Dabo Swinney, without proof, suggested Florida State pull out of their game because they were afraid of playing a top-tier team. In fact, Florida state and Clemson medical officials did not agree to play after a Clemson player recently tested positive for the virus.
Herbstreit, whose two sons play Clemson, apologized on social media shortly after his comments were posted, saying his comments were “unfair” and without merit.
The mea culpa was apparently not good enough for Manuel.
“I can’t tell you how embarrassed I am for the Big Ten Conference to have one of their reps who played this game say that about any team in this conference,” Manuel said. “And to say it about college football and these student-athletes across the country trying to play games during a pandemic is ludicrous and sad.
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