The Big Ten Conference sent out a press release yesterday regarding all the whoopty-hoo that occurred before last week’s Michigan - Michigan State game.

I’m assuming you know what happened. If not, here’s a rundown:

Michigan State walks across the filed arm in arm, as they usually do before the game.

They encounter Michigan players, and an ensuing tough guy, pushy shoving contest breaks out.

No one was accused of sticking their tongue out at anyone else, although I’m sure that probably happened. It would seem appropriate for such an incident.

I’m not sure what “close lined” is... I’ve heard of “clotheslining” someone... maybe this needs an explanation because not many people have clothes lines anymore. Clothes lines were used years ago when we cared about how much electricity we used and everyone hung their clothes out to dry on wires or thin ropes strung between two poles.

If the clothes line was hanging low and you were running along not paying attention, you got it in the neck and it about tore your head off.

“RIPPING HEAD PHONES OFF” sounds horrible, doesn’t it?

There you are, listening to the sounds of waves on the beach, trying to relax, and some guys come along and expose you to the real world without warning.

You respond by stomping on some colored grass, trying your best to tear it up with your shoes and yelling “You’re a bunch of poopy butts” at your enemies.

The adults in charge responded by... being adults. And other people on the internet went to work trying to uncover the truth (be sure to read the comments) because it is totally worth their time to become involved in this fiasco.

Then then Big Ten issues a meaningless “Corner Time Out” to Michigan State, Devin Bush, Jim Harbaugh, and Mark Dantonio

Big Ten Issues Public Reprimands of Michigan and Michigan State and Announces Institutional Fine

Rosemont, Ill. – The Big Ten office today issued a series of public reprimands and an institutional fine for violations of the Big Ten Sportsmanship Policy involving the Michigan at Michigan State football game on Oct., 20, 2018.

The Big Ten determined that Michigan State violated the policy when its football team walked across the field with linked arms and initiated contact with multiple members of Michigan’s team who were legitimately on the field during pregame warmups. Consequently, the Michigan State football team is reprimanded and the institution has been fined $10,000 as a result of the violation.

Michigan State head football coach Mark Dantonio is also reprimanded for failing to take action to mitigate a foreseeable conflict from occurring.

Michigan’s Devin Bush is reprimanded for his conduct.

Michigan head football coach Jim Harbaugh is reprimanded for his comments made about the incident and opponent during his media availability on both Saturday and Monday.

“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,” said Commissioner Jim Delany. “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.”

The Big Ten Conference considers this matter concluded and will have no further comment.

I honestly don’t know what it means to be “publicly reprimanded” if you’re Devin Bush. Will NFL teams ask him tons of questions about it come draft time? Will NFL pundits point to it and say that Bush has behavioral problems (likely, because NFL pundits freak out about everything, including tiny arms on offensive linemen)?

Can Michigan State afford a $10,000 fine these days?

As a Husker fan, you should find all of these events troubling, although maybe not for the reason you’re thinking.

You should find them troubling because we don’t have a rivalry that comes anywhere close to this level of hatred. Few schools do, but nothing says “rivalry” like a good clotheslining or ripping the headphones off your opponent.

We’re not even at the point we get into shouting matches with Iowa. It’s unimaginable that we’d do that to Wisconsin, Northwestern or Minnesota. I don’t recall our coaches having to restrain players at any point since we’ve joined the Big Ten. Everyone’s so “nice” it’s nauseating sometimes.

You can talk all the crap you want about “That’s Not Nebraska Football” and how we’re so likable and gentlemanly, but I’m ready for some mean and nasty swagger from our beloved Huskers.

You might say it’s because we haven’t exactly been in a swagger position since joining the Big Ten, but that’s bullshit. You can have attitude at 0-6.

Am I off base? Is it too much? Are we supposed to be nice all the time?

There’s a comment section.