EAST LANSING — The level of quiet between Michigan football-Michigan State football went out the window roughly two hours before kickoff Saturday at Spartan Stadium.
MSU's entire team made its way down the tunnel for its pregame march across the field, something that happens for every home game. Prior to that happening, a few Michigan players — notably junior captain Devin Bush Jr. — were on the field for some early warmups, something that also happens before every game.
Bush, teammate Khaleke Hudson and a few other U-M players stayed on the field as MSU stretched from sideline-to-sideline, walking right through the Michigan players.
Both sides exchanged words during the walk and again after MSU's players made their way back across the field toward the stadium tunnel. Bush had to be held back by a few staffers during an exchange between he and some MSU players took place again.
After that, Bush went to the Spartan logo at midfield — kicking and dragging his feet through the white-painted grass.
MSU groundskeepers eventually repaired the field damage. And both sides went their separate ways.
Per Michigan spokesman Dave Ablauf, Michigan thought MSU was going to make its pregame walk — something the Spartans do every game — at 9:50 a.m., and believed they were able to take the field at 10 a.m. for pre-warmups. MSU was, per U-M, 10 minutes behind schedule.
Michigan did, however, know this walk was coming. The Wolverines were on the field when MSU went through the tunnel. None of Michigan's players on the field moved. MSU began its walk. And the confrontation followed.
Michigan-Michigan State will kick at noon on Fox.
Contact Nick Baumgardner: nbaumgardn@freepress.com. Follow him on Twitter @nickbaumgardner.
