Spartans' Riley Bullough says he learned from 'upsetting' ejection
Riley Bullough has heard the phrase “play on the verge of a rage” plenty.
Michigan State’s veteran middle linebacker knew he had to perform that way Saturday at Maryland to try and help the Spartans snap their four-game slide.
But Bullough admitted Tuesday that he crossed the fine line between aggression and aggravation when he was ejected in the first quarter. The Spartans went on to lose to the Terrapins, 28-17, for their fifth straight defeat.
“I thought we came out with a lot of energy, so it was upsetting for me to have to leave in the first quarter,” Bullough said. “But I've learned from it, and I'm just moving on.”
The senior captain had three personal fouls called against him in just 3 minutes and 55 seconds of actual time on the field with MSU’s defense Saturday.
Bullough delivered a late hit out of bounds on Teldrick Morgan on Maryland’s first offensive play of the game and took a 15-yard penalty. On the second play of the next drive, two plays before his ejection, Bullough was flagged for a roughing-the-passer hit on quarterback Perry Hills.
Then after tackling running back Lorenzo Harrison for a 6-yard loss, Bullough zoomed in as Terps receiver D.J. Moore came across the right side of the Terps’ formation. Their helmets clashed and third flag flew. After review, the targeting call was upheld. Bullough was escorted to the locker room with 4:39 left in the first quarter for the rest of the game.
Because it occurred in the first half, however, he will not have to sit out Saturday against Michigan (noon/ESPN).
“The three flags that I got early in the game were obviously tough,” Bullough said. “And going back and looking at the film, I feel like a couple of those could have been avoided. And then the targeting call is just -- you know, it's unfortunate, but that's the rule nowadays, so I've got to change the way I play in that regard.”
It was Bullough’s second career ejection for targeting. He also was thrown out of last season’s game against Air Force.
MSU coach Mark Dantonio said he talked with Bullough at halftime of the Maryland game and didn’t think the helmet-to-helmet hit was egregious.
“I don't know what to tell a guy sometimes. A guy is trying to make a play,” Dantonio said. “I don't think he tried to hit the guy and intentionally be thrown out of the game. That's craziness. I don't think people are doing that.
“But they called it, and so we’ve got to deal with it. … I'll complain, but the complaining really doesn’t seem to do much good, so I'm best to keep my composure and try and continue on.”