Shaking hands is an aspect of our everyday life that many of us don’t even think about anymore. At least not until the COVID-19 pandemic hit the United States, forcing the country to limit all contact with each other over the last month.

Handshaking is so common that it’s even been a key aspect of sports for an eternity. It’s a show of good sportsmanship before and after every athletics event, allowing coaches and players to congratulate each other on a hard-fought contest.

If you’re like me, you probably also think it’s really dumb. Sure, I understand the idea behind the post-game handshake line, but it’s really just a forced action that can only cause problems. Seriously, what life-changing moment has ever occurred because players were forced to participate in the post-game handshake?

I rest my case.

So when Dr. Anthony Fauci, a key member of the White House task force in stopping the spread of COVID-19, said “I don’t think we should ever shake hands ever again, to be honest with you,” my first thought was “Great! Now we can get rid of those stupid post-game handshake lines.”

After a few minutes, something else crossed my mind. I started to think about some of those awesome (and usually controversial) moments that have occurred that involved the pre- and post-game ritual. Over the last decade or so in the B1G, we’ve witnessed some really good ones.

Just in case those handshake lines do go away in college athletics (and they definitely should), here are some memorable moments from recent B1G contests that are worthy of some recognition.

Tennessee adds Gatorade to injury for Tom Allen

Despite owning a 22-9 lead with under 5 minutes to play in the Gator Bowl this year, Indiana found a way to let a bowl victory slip away. Tennessee scored two touchdowns in the final minutes of the fourth quarter to defeat the Hoosiers 23-22, ending IU’s hopes of a nine-win season and the first bowl victory in three decades.

When Tennessee’s Jeremy Pruitt and Tom Allen met at midfield for the post-game handshake, a few Volunteer players got Pruitt, and Allen, with a Gatorade bath. Allen appears to tell Pruitt “don’t worry about it,” but you can clearly see the disappointment on his face. That’s one Gatorade bath Allen will hope to forget.

Maryland refuses to shake Penn State’s hand

Considering Maryland entered the 2014 game against Penn State with a 35-1-1 record against the Nittany Lions, you’d think the last thing you’d want to do is aggravate a new B1G rival. But hey, the Terrapins took their shot and refused to shake the hands of the Nittany Lions players before the start of the game.

It ultimately paid off for Maryland, as it ended up defeating Penn State 20-19 in a thriller in Happy Valley. Actually, maybe the Terps should try that again the next time they play the Lions. PSU has outscored Maryland 232-50 in the last five meetings.

Sports Betting in Big Ten Country

There is big news coming to the upcoming 2022-23 Big Ten football season (and NFL season). Ohio online sports betting and Maryland sports betting are on the way.

21+ and present in OH. Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER.

Fran McCaffery storms off after North Dakota game

Some hard fouls and a steal and layup at the end of the already-decided outcome of a game between Iowa and North Dakota in 2016 forced the Iowa head coach to storm off the floor immediately when then the buzzer sounded. Some of Iowa’s players appeared to stick around, mostly because they seemed utterly confused by McCaffery’s sudden rage.

As you probably already know, McCaffery isn’t afraid to upset anyone by calling off the handshake line. Whether it’s warranted or not.

James “The Flash” Franklin chases down PSU players after loss to MSU

You might think you’d be able to beat James Franklin in a footrace, but watching him sprint across the field at Spartan Stadium made me seriously wonder if he should be invited to the Olympic trials. He’s got some serious zoom.

What prompted Franklin’s frantic sprint to the other side of the field? A few of his players tried to hit the locker room before shaking hands after Penn State lost to Michigan State on a last-second field goal, ending the team’s B1G title and College Football Playoff hopes in 2017. Even in a loss, Franklin wants his players to “act with class.”

Daniel Oturu gets vulgar with Lamar Stevens

A hard-fought game between Minnesota and Penn State earlier this season and outstanding performances from Daniel Oturu and Lamar Stevens led to the two hurling insults at each other after the game. Multiple times, Oturu referred to Stevens as a…well…you can read lips, right?

Good news: in the second game between the B1G foes this year, the two had a long embrace after the game and seemed to patch things up. You love it when these stories have happy endings.

P.J. Fleck and Jeff Brohm keep it brief

This quick exchange between Fleck and Brohm after Minnesota’s 38-31 over Purdue in 2019 led to so many questions on social media. Do the two hate each other? Was Brohm just frustrated because his two best players (Rondale Moore and Elijah Sindelar) were injured in the game? Or was this just all blown out of proportion?

It’s probably the last option. But it was still a funny moment between the two.

Things get heated between Fran McCaffery, Illinois assistant coaches

Hey look, McCaffery is making a return appearance! This time it’s three seasons later against B1G opponent Illinois. Once again, McCaffery storms off the court and signals that his players immediately head to the locker room.

Apparently, a few Illinois assistant coaches took offense to Joe Wieskamp dunking on the Illini late in the game with a big lead. McCaffery clearly wasn’t happy that the assistant coaches were upset about what happened in the final minute. Oh, the irony.

Tom Crean goes after UM assistant Jeff Meyer after IU wins B1G

Following a long rebuild, Tom Crean finally led Indiana to a B1G regular season title, winning the conference outright with a thrilling 72-71 road win over Michigan in Ann Arbor. Claiming the conference crown wasn’t enough for Crean, though. He wanted to rub Jeff Meyer’s nose in it a little bit. Or a lotta bit, actually.

Meyer, who was a member of Kelvin Sampson’s staff at Indiana that brought so many sanctions to Bloomington and crushed the program for years, was speaking innocently with IU assistant Tim Buckley. Crean bolted over to the two, screamed at Meyer for “wrecking the program” and then was escorted away by Buckley with a giant villain’s grin on his face.

Honestly, after all Crean went through at Indiana, who could blame him?

Mark Dantonio can’t escape Herm Edwards fast enough after ASU’s win vs. MSU

Remember how quickly Mark Dantonio got out of Michigan State once he cashed in on his retention bonus in January? He actually tried that strategy out months earlier after the Spartans dropped a heart-breaker to Arizona State in September. Herm Edwards wasn’t having it.

Dantonio was trying to walk back to the locker room after a frustrating loss, but Edwards had the MSU head coach by the shoulders. Despite Dantonio’s best attempts, he was involved in that five-second interaction about 4.9 seconds longer than he’d hoped.

Jim Harbaugh, Pat Fitzgerald can’t find each other, and Fitz gets really annoyed

Northwestern held a 17-0 lead on Michigan at home until the Wolverines stormed back in the second half and defeated the Wildcats 20-17. A late-play by the UM defense sealed the victory for the Maize and Blue, and the team celebrated at midfield after the scoreboard showed all zeroes.

The mass of winged helmets and white jerseys caused a little confusion, though, and Jim Harbaugh and Pat Fitzgerald seriously couldn’t find each other to shake hands. It took all of about 10 seconds before Fitzgerald got really annoyed and just wanted to get off the field.

Matt Painter and Tom Crean with the shortest exchange ever

Another visit from Crean, though this one seems a little more incriminating. After an Indiana victory over rival Purdue in 2012, Crean reached out his hand and as soon as it met Matt Painter’s fingertips, the IU head coach raced by. That moment, in all it’s glory, is now known as “the blow by.”

Even Painter looked pretty shocked that Crean was in such a hurry to get out of Mackey Arena after a Hoosier win.