Michigan nose tackle Mazi Smith is facing a felony weapons charge, but like he has in every game this season, the senior started for the Wolverines on Saturday in the Big Ten championship against Purdue.
Speaking to reporters during a Fiesta Bowl teleconference Sunday night, Michigan head coach Jim Harbaugh defended his and the university’s decision not to suspend Smith following his arrest in October.
According to Lt. Bonnie Theil of the Ann Arbor Police Department, Smith was stopped for speeding on Oct. 7. During the traffic stop, Smith, 21, was found to be in possession of a handgun without a valid concealed pistol license or driver’s license. He was arrested on scene, processed at the police station and later released pending review by the Washtenaw County Prosecutor’s Office.
Charges were filed Wednesday, Nov. 30 – four days after Michigan beat Ohio State to clinch the Big Ten East.
“We found out the day that it happened,” Harbaugh said of Smith’s arrest. “Mazi was completely honest, up front, cooperative. Felt like he gave us the exact circumstances. I really respect the justice system and feel like there will be a fair resolution to come soon from that.
“As far as a decision on to play Mazi Smith from the time of the incident through now, that’s a decision that’s made by our athletic director, Warde Manuel, and our president, Santa Ono, and myself, all who know Mazi Smith and know the kind of person that he is and the trust that he’s built up in our program.”
Because Smith, who is scheduled for a probable cause hearing on Thursday, was not lodged in jail following his Oct. 7 arrest, he was released with felony weapons charges pending, according to Washtenaw County Prosecutor Eli Savit.
The incident has been compared to the arrest of Eastern Michigan basketball player Emoni Bates. The former Ypsilanti Lincoln standout was pulled over by the Washtenaw County Sheriff’s Department on Sept. 18 and arrested on two felony gun charges.
Bates was lodged overnight in Washtenaw County Jail and arraigned less than 48 hours later. Bates also was immediately suspended by EMU and did not return to the court until after the charges were plead down to misdemeanors.
Meanwhile, charges also were filed against seven Michigan State football players following an Oct. 29 incident inside the tunnel at Michigan Stadium. MSU coach Mel Tucker suspended four players the day after the game and four more within the week before charges were filed.
Harbaugh was asked Sunday if Michigan has a policy on handling related matters.
“I’m not going to comment on whether it’s a felony or not, or whether it should’ve been charged as a felony or not, but I think if you do your homework, you’re going to realize you can’t compare this to the low hanging fruit that’s out there,” Harbaugh said. “I’d encourage you not to pander to the Twittersphere and really the haters that like to drink their hater-ade and eat their hater-tots.