Football: Big Ten suspends Coleman; OSU disappointed with decision
Safety to miss matchup against Indiana
Monday, September 28, 2009 4:01 PM
Updated: Monday, September 28, 2009 04:53 PM
By Ken Gordon
THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH
The Big Ten today suspended Ohio State safety Kurt Coleman for one game for his hit on Illinois quarterback Eddie McGee on Saturday.
Coleman will sit out OSU's game at Indiana this Saturday.
The hit came in the final minute of a 30-0 OSU victory last week. McGee gained 4 yards on a draw play and was tackled by Tom Ingham and Andrew Sweat when Coleman dove onto McGee and their helmets hit.
OSU was flagged for a personal foul. But under a first-year Big Ten policy, the league reviews all questionable calls and can issue suspensions, whether a play was called a penalty or not.
The league said Coleman violated its rule banning helmet-to-helmet contact and also a rule that states "no player shall initiate contact and target a defenseless opponent above the shoulders."
Ohio State athletics director Gene Smith and football coach Jim Tressel issued a joint statement:
"Obviously, we will abide by the one-game suspension from the Big Ten Conference, but we feel as if there was poor judgment throughout.
"We concur that Kurt's hit was late and a result of poor judgment; he was thus penalized and removed from the game by his coaches. We do not agree that it was 'pre-meditated' or that he was 'targeting a defenseless' player.
"The decision to suspend points to the Conference office's feeling as if there was poor judgment by the game officials for their decision not to eject at the time.
"In our estimation, the final 'poor judgment' is in levying a one-game suspension in this particular case. We will abide by the decision, learn from it, and move forward."
The release also said that "Ohio State will have no further comment regarding this matter."
This is the third suspension the Big Ten has issued this season, all for one game. In its release announcing the suspension, the league said it would have no further comment.
Coleman, a senior captain from Dayton, is the Buckeyes' second-leading tackler with 29. He leads OSU with three forced fumbles.
Anderson Russell is likely to start in Coleman's place this week.
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