Big Ten Fines Michigan St 10K, Reprimands Harbaugh, Dantonio

ROSEMONT, Ill. (AP) 

INDIANAPOLIS, IN - DECEMBER 02: The Ohio State Buckeyes celebrate after their 27-21 win over the Wisconsin Badgers during the Big Ten Championship game at Lucas Oil Stadium on December 2, 2017 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images)

The Big Ten fined Michigan State $10,000 and reprimanded the Spartans football team, coach Mark Dantonio, Michigan coach Jim Harbaugh and Wolverines linebacker Devin Bush for their actions and comments regarding a confrontation before last week's game.

TAMPA, FL - JANUARY 1: Head coach Jim Harbaugh of the Michigan Wolverines looks on from the sidelines during the second quarter of the Outback Bowl NCAA college football game against the South Carolina Gamecocks on January 1, 2018 at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Brian Blanco/Getty Images)

The Big Ten announced Wednesday that Michigan State violated the conference's sportsmanship policy when its team walked across the field with linked arms and initiated contact with Michigan players, who were on the field during pregame warmups.

Dantonio, who was walking behind the team during its pregame ritual, was reprimanded for "failing to take action to mitigate a foreseeable conflict from occurring."

NEW YORK, NY - OCTOBER 19: Big Ten Commissioner Jim Delany speaks at the 2017 Big Ten Media Day at Madison Square Garden on October 19, 2017 in New York City. (Photo by Abbie Parr/Getty Images)

"We are fortunate the series of events that occurred prior to the Michigan-Michigan State game did not escalate into a much more serious matter," Big Ten Commissioner Jim Delany said in a statement. "While traditions hold great importance on our campuses, traditions do not supersede the values of good sportsmanship or the requirement for player safety.  We expect more from our coaches, students and administrators and will continue to work with our institutions to prioritize good sportsmanship moving forward."

EAST LANSING, MI - OCTOBER 20: Head coach Mark Dantonio of the Michigan State Spartans talks with officials about the current weather delay while playing the Michigan Wolverines at Spartan Stadium on October 20, 2018 in East Lansing, Michigan. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)

Harbaugh was reprimanded for postgame comments about the incident and Dantonio. Bush was reprimanded for tearing up Michigan State's midfield logo with his cleats before the game.

Phone messages left for Dantonio and Harbaugh were not immediately returned.

Michigan went on to beat Michigan State 21-7.

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