Co-captain and Ohio State safety Kurt Coleman has been suspended for one game by the Big Ten Conference for a flagrant personal foul against Illinois’ Eddie McGee which occurred during the closing moments of the Ohio State – Illinois game. Coleman will not play vs. Indiana this weekend. Apparently, Jim Tressel did not agree with the decision and expressed his disappointment in the Conference’s ruling.

“Obviously, we will abide by the one-game suspension from the Big Ten Conference, but we feel as if there was poor judgment throughout,” Ohio State’s statement reads. “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 ‘premeditated’ 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.”

I don’t think that the Big Ten levied the suspension because the hit was “premeditated” but I do think that helmet to helmet hits, especially on a QB, are generally targeting a defenseless player. I’ll have video of the hit soon up on the site.

Coleman’s absence may help loosen up OSU’s defense, and we may see more of Indiana’s Doss again. Breakdowns in Michigan’s safety play led to several big gains by IU.

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