BLOOMINGTON, Ind. — Michigan entered Saturday’s contest at Indiana as the least penalized team in the nation. That’s about to change once the stats are updated, it seems.
The Wolverines had 10 penalties for 85 yards against the Indiana Hoosiers, while the home team had just four for 50. While some were legitimate, others were a little — lacking — in reality.
The most egregious came when Michigan had stopped Indiana, thanks to edge rusher Jaylen Harrell breaking through for a big sack. He celebrated, wiping the back of his hand up near his forehead. Moments later, the flag came out, and he was penalized for unsportsmanlike conduct.
Indiana gained a first down and new life. Instead of the maize and blue getting off the field, the Hoosiers kept the ball and marched down the field to tie the game with a touchdown.
“I guess the ref thought I slashed my throat,” Harrell said. “Can’t have those penalties. Won’t happen again.
“Matt Judon does a celebration where he brushes his nose. That was the intent, but can’t have penalties like that.”
After the game, head coach Jim Harbaugh didn’t mince words about what happened, saying that it wasn’t what he thought he saw, and if Harrell couldn’t celebrate as such, then no player could do anything after the play but remain emotionless.
“I could tell with what the referee saw, but I mean, it was one of those — wipe the brow. Which, I guess you can’t do anything,” Harbaugh said. “That was the message that I got back. I mean, he can’t do anything of any nature. And I pointed out a few other ways that players signal first down and there’s things. I mean, I think he’s kind of equating it to some kind of throat slash, but it certainly wasn’t and as I said, that was called really tight on that one.
“And, yeah, just continue to keep coaching it. We coach that one big time. No celebrations, you can’t bring any attention on yourself. That’s what the rule, was the explanation I got. Which seems inconsistent, because you see a lot of, at times, attention being brought to somebody’s self for the rest of the game. Not for us. All we can do is do better, not give any kind of close to where it could be — don’t leave that to any type of a judgment call is our message.”
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But that wasn’t the only call that went Indiana’s way. There was a roughing the passer that extended a second-half drive, while the offense had a few calls against it with scant evidence.
Wide receiver Ronnie Bell called shenanigans on the refereeing, being a little more tongue-in-cheek while also noting the same thing Harbaugh did.
“C’mon guys, y’all know what was going on!” Bell said. “Y’all know. It’s part of the game. Sometimes they want to have more fun than usual — it’s OK.”
Quarterback J.J. McCarthy acknowledged that sometimes, that’s just the way the game goes. They don’t have to like it, but with a 31-10 win, the Wolverines sometimes just have to grin and bear it.
“We’ve got no control over some of those calls,” McCarthy said. “You’ve just gotta run with it! It is what it is.”
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