The University of Michigan football team shocked the world on Saturday, Nov. 30, with a 13-10 win over the second-ranked Ohio State Buckeyes in the 120th version of “The Game.” The win marked the fourth straight year that the defending national champions have bested the Buckeyes in America’s most intense rivalry, leaving a sour taste in the mouths of Ohio State head coach Ryan Day and his players.
This sour taste was evident in what happened after the game. Following their win, Michigan players began to plant their block-M flag on the 50-yard line of Ohio State’s field. As they did so, dejected Buckeye players heading to the locker room halted their exit and began fighting Michigan players in an attempt to defend their field. The situation quickly escalated to an all-out brawl that featured numerous punches thrown, Ohio State players ripping Michigan’s flag off of its pole, and police needing to use pepper spray to break up the fight.
Flag planting has existed for decades. It often occurs after a road team’s victory in a rivalry game or in a game where the road team is a large underdog beforehand.
Recent, notable examples include current NFL player Baker Mayfield planting an Oklahoma flag in Ohio State’s stadium after the Sooners upset the Buckeyes in 2017, Michigan players planting their flag following their upset victory over the Buckeyes in 2022, and Texas players planting a flag on Michigan’s 50-yard line following their victory over the Wolverines earlier this season.
All of these episodes were carried out without resistance from the home team who exited the field immediately after their loss, allowing the road team to claim the turf they had rightfully won through 60 minutes of play. A road victor should be able to celebrate on the field however they want. If the home team doesn’t like it, they should have won the game.
Times have changed. The Michigan-Ohio State brawl was not the only scuffle that followed a flag-planting over the weekend. Three other rivalry games featured road wins followed by fights.
After North Carolina State’s thrilling defeat of the University of North Carolina, Wolfpack players attempted to plant the flag on the 50-yard line. UNC wide receiver J.J. Jones ripped and hurled the flag away as a brawl began.
The same happened in the University of Florida’s defeat of Florida State University, which also saw a flag being plunged into Florida State’s 50-yard line. Once again, a scrum formed when Florida State players attempted to defend their field. Even the Seminole head coach Mike Norvell got involved in the fight, snatching the Gator’s flag and tossing it aside.
The final incident occurred in Arizona State University’s win over the University of Arizona. The Sun Devils’ mascot’s pitchfork was planted on Arizona’s 50-yard line, and Arizona players attempted to remove it, leading to a scuffle in the endzone.
What used to be a harmless action following a big win has transformed into something that demands the home team defend their turf.
When asked how to describe “The Game” to someone completely unfamiliar with the rivalry, Ryan Day’s answer was simple: “it’s war.”
In war, once a side loses its territory, it is rightly taken by the victorious side. This is the same in football. Once a team loses, they surrender their field to the victorious team. You don’t get to fight after the whistle blows. You’ve lost the war and surrendered your territory.
In a press conference, Mayfield said, “You take your loss and you move on. College Football is meant to have rivalries. Just let the boys play.”
To start a fight after a loss does not convey pride or bravery in defending your stadium. It demonstrates immaturity and softness in the team. It demonstrates that your team is unable to win a football game to accept defeat.
Along with three other rivalry game losers over the weekend, Ohio State demonstrated these exact characteristics and exposed the true nature of its program to the nation.