Michigan AD ESPN’s Kirk blasts Herb Street for the charge

Ward Manuel, director of athletics at the University of Michigan, called ESPN college football analyst Kirk Herbstreet a “fool” and said the Wolverines could try to use COVID – 19 as an excuse to avoid playing in Ohio next week.

Manuel said Wednesday the comments of Herbstreet, a former Ohio state footballer. “I have to pause because my words, anger … I’m angry at the urge to do nothing but play a football game in Michigan.

“To provoke it, to say anything other than that is a statement of an idiot,” Manuel said.

Manuel’s retaliation came Michigan were forced to cancel the game against Maryland Due to the increasing number of COVID-19 cases within the program on Saturday, it further affects what is commonly referred to as “The Game” between Wolverines and Buckeyes.

Tuesday night, Herbstreet told ESPN “I still think Michigan is waving the white flag Avoid playing in Ohio next week. ”

His reason is that by canceling the game, Michigan, 2-4 and have nothing to play with, could hurt its biggest rival, who has won 15 of the last 16 meetings between the two schools.

Michigan, who have already missed two games this season due to COVID-19-related reasons, will not be able to reach the six games needed to qualify for the Big Ten Championship without playing in Ohio.

Without the conference title game in its comeback, the chances of four teams from the state of Ohio creating college football playoffs would be hugely successful.

The accusation of using COVID-19 in disguise to postpone or cancel a game is unprecedented. Last month, No. 3 Clemson head coach Dabo Swinney, without evidence, recommended the state of Florida They dropped out of their tournament because they were afraid to play for a better team. In fact, Florida State and Clemson medical officials have not agreed to play after a Clemson player was recently tested positive for the virus.

Herbstreet, whose two sons play in Clemson, apologized on social media shortly after his comments aired, saying his comments were “unfair” and unsubstantiated.

My gulpa was not enough for Manuel.

“I can’t tell you how embarrassing it is for one of their delegates who played this game for the Big Ten conference to tell me about any team at this conference,” Manuel said. “It’s ridiculous and sad that these student-athletes around college football and around this country are trying to play during an epidemic.”