Before last week's game against Michigan State, Michigan senior offensive tackle Taylor Lewan said his team wouldn't be bullied by the Spartans. The Spartans did just that, dominating the Wolverines in a 29-6 win. On Monday, Lewan apologized for what he called "immature" behavior during the game.
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In the second quarter of Saturday's game, Lewan was called for a personal foul after he twisted the facemask of Michigan State strong safety Isaiah Lewis while Lewis was on the ground.
"When I did it, that was blatant," Lewan said Monday at Michigan's weekly news conference. "That was just poor and immature of me. There's no other way to make it look like I'm a good person in that situation."
Lewan, a team captain who is seen as a sure first-rounder in the 2014 NFL Draft, said he was reprimanded by Wolverines coach Brady Hoke.
"It really came down to, I'm trying to protect [Michigan quarterback] Devin Gardner," he said. "And being sacked seven times, a bunch of guys in the pile, his head exposed at the time ... I'm not trying to make any excuses -- what I did was wrong -- but I was trying to protect my guys. There's always a different way to go about it. I should have completely gone about it a different way. But I can't take it back now."
Lewan is known as a physical and aggressive blocker who plays with a mean streak. He said he learned from the situation and said the incident is "not who I am off the field."
While numerous Wolverines left the field after the game without shaking hands, Lewan did stick around to congratulate the Spartans. He said he tried to find Lewis but didn't see him.
"I looked and would have absolutely apologized to him," Lewan said.
Hoke was asked Monday if Lewan would be suspended.
"If I think he should be suspended, I would already have done it," Hoke said.
Mike Huguenin can be reached at mike.huguenin@nfl.com. You also can follow him on Twitter @MikeHuguenin.
