In college football, week 14 of the season is known as “rivalry week.” This season, rivalry week included a number of great games but was marred by fighting, much of it over flag-planting celebrations wherein the away team, after winning, attempted to stick their flag into the midfield logo of their opponents. The most high-profile of these incidents came after the annual rivalry matchup between Ohio State University and the University of Michigan, known as “The Game.”
On Saturday, Nov. 30, Ohio State faced Michigan at home in the latest chapter of a storied rivalry. In a shocking upset, the biggest in the rivalry’s history, the Wolverines defeated the Buckeyes, who had been three-touchdown favorites, with a last-minute field goal. Afterwards, while the Ohio State crowd began to sing the school’s alma mater song, Michigan players jogged to midfield to plant their school’s flag on the Buckeyes’ logo. Flag-planting is not an uncommon celebration in college football, particularly after rivalry games, so it was relatively unexpected when a group of Buckeyes players met them at the 50 yard line. Ohio State defensive end Jack Sawyer ripped Michigan’s flag off of its pole, starting a brawl between the two camps.
Ultimately, the fight ended poorly for everyone, with OSU police officers attempting to break up the teams by, inexplicably, pepper-spraying players. Both sides were fined for poor, unsportsmanlike conduct, and it was considered a disgrace for everyone involved. After additional fights ensued over flag-planting in the UNC vs. NC State and Florida State vs. Florida games, as well as a brief skirmish over Arizona State planting a trident at midfield after beating Arizona, it appears probable that the NCAA may ban the celebration. But this is an unnecessary solution to an unnecessary problem; if college football teams don’t want their rivals planting a flag on their field, they should win. To lose in a rivalry game can be embarrassing. To lose in a rivalry game and then throw a temper tantrum when the winners celebrate is downright humiliating.
Proponents of banning flag-planting argue that it is unsportsmanlike and classless. Though losing teams should not start fights over it, they argue that denigrating a rival’s logo or emblem is uniquely disrespectful, and should not be allowed for the sake of sportsmanship. But flag-planting is not particularly worse than similarly showy celebrations–like pre-choreographed dances or the “horns down” hand symbol, which has been a staple of Texas’ opponents for years–simply because it invokes an opponent’s logo. Flag-planting also does not directly involve members of the other team, so it can hardly be considered taunting. Barring truly exceptional displays of mockery or disrespect, the general rule of thumb with stinging celebrations is “put up or shut up” because a rival team can’t showboat unless given reason to.
For example, take Sawyer, a senior captain for the Buckeyes. Michigan entered The Game as an underdog away team and emerged with their fourth straight victory in The Game, all four of them coming against Buckeyes teams ranked second nationally. So, it is understandable that Sawyer would be upset; as a fourth-year senior, he will end his college career having never beat Michigan. “They’re not planting a flag on our field again!” he was recorded angrily yelling at a staffer attempting to hold him back as the Wolverines carried their flag to the Buckeyes’ logo, underscoring a frustration likely shared by many of his teammates. However, saving his most ferocious anger for after the final whistle rendered it worthless. Sawyer could rip apart every Michigan flag in the country, but he will forever remain the guy who lost to them all four years in a row. Harsh as it sounds, if he was so terribly concerned about being disrespected by the Wolverines, he should have channeled that passion into stopping the run.
Of course, an emotional, heat-of-the-moment overreaction from a 22-year-old player who, all things considered, played well and was disappointed in the aftermath of a loss is far from a cardinal sin. But, it was reflected in the comments made by Ohio State head coach Ryan Day after the game. About the fight, Day said that Michigan players were “looking to put a flag on [their] field and [Ohio State] guys weren’t going to let that happen.” To be clear, that was his description of an event wherein his team stormed to midfield to fight opposing players over a celebration of beating them. The game-winning field goal for Michigan was set up by a 27-yard run in the final minute from Kalel Mullings, which began with him narrowly escaping a defensive lineman in the backfield; of everything the Ohio State Buckeyes weren’t going to let happen, apparently a flag- plant ranked higher than broken tackles.
The push to ban flag-planting may or may not succeed, and, although it is extreme, there may be some merit to preventing further fighting. But, the much simpler solution would be for the losing team to take off their cleats, go home, and resolve to win next year. The fact that the Buckeyes were unable to do so is likely emblematic of the same culture which has led them to lose The Game for four consecutive years.