Unpredictable Aftermath of “The Game”

Two Saturdays ago, the Michigan Wolverines, shocking the college football world, upset No. 2 Ohio State, 13-10 in Columbus, Ohio.

But what unfolded after the final whistle was equally as shocking: police officers used pepper spray to break up a brawl between Michigan and Ohio State players.

The postgame pandemonium continued this week, as a lawmaker proposed legislation to make planting a flag a felony in the state of Ohio.

Let’s dive in:

Pepper Spray After Major Upset

The Michigan-Ohio State rivalry, dating back to 1897, is widely accepted as one of the greatest rivalries in sports history. 

Coming into “The Game” this year the Buckeyes were the stronger team. Finishing at 10-2, Ohio State earned a College Football Playoff birth and will take on No. 9 Tennessee in the first-ever 12-team expanded playoff format. 

Even though Michigan was out of playoff contention, the Wolverines were looking to capture their fourth straight rivalry victory. 

After an anticlimactic game that featured 23 combined points, the real action took place after the game when Michigan players attempted to plant a flag on the Block O, where Buckeyes gathered to sing “Carmen Ohio” — an OSU tradition. 

The clash between players escalated and police were involved, attempting to keep the teams separate at the 50-yard line. When officers were unable to keep the peace, multiple officers deployed pepper spray in the ruckus of players, coaches, and personnel from each team.

The melee resulted in at least one reported injury to an officer. The Big Ten fined each team $100,000 for the scuffle. 

For an in-depth analysis of the legal claims between police officers and players, Oliver Canning, a 2L at UMiami Law, wrote a detailed article explaining why the 120th edition of “The Game” will be remembered as “an unforgettable chapter in college football’s most storied rivalry.” 

Ohio Lawmaker’s Proposed Legislation

On Tuesday, Rep. Josh Williams introduced the O.H.I.O. Sportsmanship Act — a bill that would make flag planting at Ohio Stadium a felony.

The proposed act states that “[n]o person shall plant a flagpole with a flag attached to it in the center of the football field at Ohio stadium of the Ohio State University on the day of a college football competition, whether before, during, or after the competition. Whoever violates this section is guilty of a felony of the fifth degree.”

In Ohio, fifth-degree felony is the least severe, but nonetheless  carries a penalty of six to 12 months in prison, up to a $2,500 fine and up to five years' probation.

Notably, the bill would also apply to Ohio State players planting flags after a home victory. Wililams believes the criminal penalty would deter future players from crossing state lines and violating university policies.

Williams, who claims he coached youth for 15 years, told ESPN safety and respect as major reasons for the proposed bill: “[Michigan-Ohio State] is the No. 1 rivalry in all of sports, not just college sports, and to see it devolve all the way down to this level, it just disrespects not only the institution, but the college programs themselves. More importantly, it provided a true safety hazard."

My Thoughts

I thought Michigan RB Kalel Mullins (who finished with 116 yards and a TD) summed up the postgame scuffle perfectly: