COLLEGE FOOTBALL
Lewan says he wasn't in fight with Ohio State fan
12/26/2013SCOTTSDALE, Ariz.— Michigan left tackle Taylor Lewan spoke Wednesday in regards to an Ann Arbor Police Department probe into an incident in November.
Ann Arbor police confirmed earlier this week that Lewan was interviewed in connection to an altercation, and the Detroit Free Press reported Tuesday that Lewan was one of several people interviewed by police after an Ohio State fan said he was assaulted outside an Ann Arbor restaurant.
“I'm not going to get into too many details,” Lewan said Wednesday at Chaparral High School, where Michigan is practicing in preparation for Saturday's Buffalo Wild Wings Bowl against Kansas State. “I wasn't in a fight, I didn't hit anybody, and I was just trying to help out a situation and break up something. I can't really go into any more details than that.
“I'm sure the truth will come out.”
Ryan Munsch, a Columbus resident, told the Free Press that Lewan punched him in the face and the ribs and that he had to be hospitalized. At the time, Munsch said he did not realize who Lewan was but identified him to the police.
Lewan has not been arrested or charged in connection with the incident, which occurred after the Michigan-Ohio State game Nov. 30.
“Like I said, I’m not going to go into it anymore,” Lewan said.
Lewan is expected to play Saturday.
The Ann Arbor police have not commented on the investigation, which remains open.
HOSPITALITY: Michigan linebackers James Ross III and Joe Bolden said they’re taking advantage of the perks of spending the holiday season preparing for a bowl game — and that includes a cushy players-only area at the Hyatt Regency Scottsdale at Gainey Ranch.
“The player hospitality suite is extremely nice,” Bolden said. “It’s where a lot of guys hang out, especially last night with it being Christmas Eve and everything. It’s just a huge place for all of us to hang out and to bond more as a team and to spend time with the guys.”
Ross found another perk.
“The most important thing is the bonding aspect of it,” Ross said. “But my second favorite thing is all the chips and dip they’ve got there. It’s all-you-can-eat, so it’s pretty good right there!”
MOVIE TIME: The Wolverines got an advance screening of the movie Lone Survivor on Christmas Eve, a drama starring Mark Wahlberg and Emile Hirsch that will be released next month. Lone Survivor recounts a Navy SEAL surveillance mission that was ambushed in Afghanistan in 2005, and is based on Marcus Luttrell’s best-selling book. Lone Survivor: The Eyewitness Account of Operation Redwing and the Lost Heroes of SEAL Team 10.
THE DAY AFTER: Today won’t be a holiday anymore. Michigan will meet with the media at 9:30 a.m. Mountain Time, followed by Kansas State at 11 a.m.
Michigan will practice at 11:40 a.m.
After practice Hadiah, a Sumatran tiger at the Phoenix Zoo, will predict the winner of the Buffalo Wild Wings Bowl.
Contact Rachel Lenzi at: rlenzi@theblade.com, 419-724-6510, or on Twitter @RLenziBlade.