Reynolds&ndash;Sorgi incident

Reynolds–Sorgi incident

The Reynolds-Sorgi Incident refers to an American college football in-game incident in which Ohio State Buckeyes linebacker Robert Reynolds choked Wisconsin Badgers quarterback Jim Sorgi, injuring Sorgi's trachea, after the play had been whistled dead. Sorgi was unable to play for the remainder of the game, struggling to breathe and unable to speak.
The game
On October 11, 2003, the Buckeyes entered the game as the defending national champions, ranked #3 in the country and on a 19-game winning streak with a record of 5-0. The unranked Badgers came into the game at 5-1, having lost at home to UNLV. The Badgers were without star running back Anthony Davis, who was recovering from a fractured eye-socket caused by a late-hit. The game was played at the Badgers' home Camp Randall Stadium.
Midway through the third quarter, Sorgi scrambled for an eight-yard gain before being brought down by a convergence of OSU tacklers. After the play was called dead, Reynolds grabbed Sorgi's throat with his hand as Sorgi lay on his back. Sorgi's vocal cords were bruised, he had a hard time breathing, and he was unable to speak. He would not return to the game, and though Reynolds was not whistled for a foul, the Badgers came back to win the game.
After the game, Big Ten commissioner James Delany commented, "(Reynolds' actions) have no place in our game." Buckeyes coach Jim Tressel initially claimed he didn't see the play but later said "Robert's conduct was totally unacceptable and has no place in intercollegiate athletics." Ohio State suspended Reynolds for one game and Reynolds issued a public apology.
Years later, on October 28, 2011, Robert Reynolds came forward to make another public apology, stating that he wanted to put the incident behind him and teach his four children about being accountable and moving on from their mistakes. Reynolds also said that he and Sorgi had made amends not long after the incident occurred, something for which Reynolds said he was very grateful.

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