If you’re watching the Miami-Ohio State game on ESPN you know that Miami’s star guard Jack McClinton was ejected in the first half for a flagrant foul, taking a swipe at an Ohio State player.
That has led to speculation that the foul will be considered an ejection for “fighting” and that, by rule, would McClinton would be suspended from the Hurricane’s next game, Saturday in Lexington, against UK.
The replays appeared to show that McClinton’s foul was more of a “swipe” at the offending Buckeye, and on tape appeared to be a retaliation for preceeding contact. ESPN broadcasters Dave O’Brien and Steve Lavin both said they did not think that McClinton would be suspended, but you never know.
McClinton had buried four three-pointers before being ejected after just eight minutes.
Stay tuned.
John Clay is a sports columnist for the Lexington Herald-Leader. A native of Central Kentucky and graduate of UK, he covered UK football for 13 seasons before being promoted to columnist in 2000. He lives in Lexington with his wife and two sons. You can e-mail him at jclay@herald-leader.com.
Regardless if there was contact before, which there was, he shouldn’t have taken a shot at the other player. If you look at the replay the OHST player was going for the ball when he swiped his face. So many of these players today walk around with a chip on their shoulder. Miami has a bunch of thugs anyway. I couldn’t help but thing about the brawl that got started last year by Miami.