Guys are going to get the message sooner or later; head coach Al Golden isn’t messing around. Despite depth issues on the defensive line, Golden has suspended senior defensive tackle Micanor Regis for Saturday’s showdown with Georgia Tech.
The suspension is technically for a ‘violation of team rules’ but Regis has been suspended for punching North Carolina receiver Dwight Jones in the groin during last week’s game. Replays showed Regis punching Jones while on the bottom of a pile and a separate replay showed the Miami tackle stepping on the hand of another player after another play.
“Micanor’s actions in the North Carolina game will not be tolerated,” Golden said in a statement. “We expect our players to represent our program with class on and off the field, and when they do not, there are consequences.
“Quite honestly, I’m embarrassed and I just apologized to Coach [Everett] Withers and shared that sentiment. We do not teach, nor will we ever condone this type of behavior in our football program.”
In a separate statement Regis said that he’s “hoping and praying” he’ll be forgiven for his on-the-field mistakes.
“I’m truly sorry for my foolish actions Saturday during the North Carolina game,” Regis said. “It was hurtful, wrong and embarrassing to both football programs, to both schools and to the millions of football fans that were watching. Specifically, I want to apologize to Dwight Jones, Coach Withers and the entire UNC football team.”
Regis has twenty-five tackles and one sack in six games this year. He’s UM’s most experienced, healthy defensive tackle and with the losses of Marcus Forston and Curtis Porter to season-ending injuries, delivered a true blow to teammates with this immature, in-the-heat-of-battle action.
The one-game suspension is a fair one and it should be noted that we’re talking about football here. Anyone who has ever played the game knows that all kinds of nasty goes on at the bottom of a pile. That doesn’t justify Regis’ actions, but it should earn him a pass from any holier-than-thou judgment for the behavior.
There’s a reason it’s a one-game suspension and not a game more. Regis screwed up in the moment and next time around he’ll think twice before reacting.
IN OTHER NEWS : Brandon Washington has been named starter for Saturday’s showdown with Georgia Tech. Washington beat out Seantrel Henderson for the starting job at left tackle days after Golden called out Washington’s play at North Carolina and declared the job open.