The Michigan Wolverines lost to its in-state rivals, the Michigan State Spartans, in truly stunning fashion, but the punter made out to be the goat for the loss is suffering more than his teammates.
With just 10 seconds left in the game, Blake O'Neill only needed to get his punt airborne to all but secure a win for Michigan. He fumbled the snap and Michigan State recovered the ball and scored a game-winning touchdown as the clock ran out.
WATCH: Blake O'Neill talks about the botched punt and moving on from it.
According to ESPN, O'Neill's Twitter account was flooded by death threats and other hateful sentiments. In response, University of Michigan (UM) interim Athletic Director Jim Hackett chastised those who sent malicious messages O'Neill's way.
"Today I awake to the shocking reality that our community who care so much about this program would send hurtful, spiteful and vicious comments to one of our students. To be clear, such comments come from a small minority, none of whom are reflective of our institution," Hackett wrote in an open letter, according to The Detroit Free Press. "The program I know at MICHIGAN speaks about the team, the team the team. The people I have been associated with my whole life around this fantastic program - some whom are living and some whom have passed on - would never, I repeat never, spread blame."
SB Nation's Roger Sherman wrote an op-ed that noted Twitter users that wrote mean things toward O'Neill were a "minority" whose voices were the loudest. Joe Tessitore, a broadcaster with ESPN, joined "SportsCenter" to outline O'Neill's accomplishments, which include the second Master's Degree he is currently seeking at UM.
O'Neill also received a great deal of support from the UM community, especially from his teammates, The Free Press reported.
"Same thing I say to my guys," Michigan State head football coach Mark Dantonio said in his postgame press conference. "You know, things happen. Don't be too hard on yourself. You're looking for effort. He gave effort. You're looking for toughness. He plays with toughness, I've seen him punt enough balls. I would like to say it's unfortunate, but I just can't."
