Purdue’s Hope adds to bad day for Michigan’s Rodriguez, blaming him for player’s suspension

Purdue coach adds to Rich Rodriguez’s misery

ANN ARBOR, Mich. — Michigan’s Rich Rodriguez says Purdue coach Danny Hope blamed him for getting one of his players suspended.

Rodriguez says Hope introduced him to guard Zach Reckman after the Boilermakers’ 38-36 win Saturday and said, “Thanks Coach, we appreciate what you did.”

Reckman was suspended for a game because of a late hit against Northern Illinois in September.

Rodriguez said on the same day he would ask the Big Ten to punish non-football acts after seeing a Big Ten player hit an opponent with a forearm on TV. Michigan linebacker Jonas Mouton was suspended for punching a Notre Dame player the previous week.

Hope issued a statement through school spokesman Tom Schott, saying his conversation with Rodriguez would remain between them.