At the end of one of the most hard-fought rivalries in college football, the University of Michigan Wolverines succeeded over Ohio State University, but the end of regulation was not the end of action on the field.
During the post-game celebration, a group of Michigan players ran the team’s large flag onto the field and stabbed it into the classic ‘O’ symbol at the 50-yard line. The Buckeyes would not stand for it and a fight ensued, with both teams placing blame on the other for who truly started the scuffle.
In videos taken on the field, the Buckeyes can be seen rushing toward the Michigan players who held the flag and in no time at all, punches were thrown and players, coaches and police were tackled to the ground. An OSU player succeeded in tearing down the blue and gold flag. Michigan and Ohio police quickly attempted to form a barrier between the teams, resorting to pepper spray to subdue the teams after the fight continued for nearly five minutes. One officer was reportedly hospitalized after the fight.
ESPN reported that the Ohio State University Police said, “Officers from multiple law enforcement agencies assisted in breaking up an on-field altercation. During the scuffle, multiple officers representing Ohio and Michigan deployed pepper spray.”
In the aftermath of the on-field altercation, the Big Ten announced that, “both programs will be fined $100,000.”
Both head coaches made statements to reporters as well. University of Michigan head coach Sherrone Moore said, “It was emotions on both sides," Moore said. "I did see they had the flag and guys were waving it around and their guys charged us. There's emotion on both sides. It can't happen. Rivalry games get heated, especially this one, it's the biggest one in the country, so we got to handle that one better.”
Ohio State head coach, Ryan Day, wasn’t as quick to place blame on either team for starting the scuffle, “I don't know all the details of it, but I know these guys are looking to put a flag on our field and our guys weren't going to let that happen. I'll find out exactly what happened. But this is our field and certainly we're embarrassed of the fact that we lost the game, but there's some prideful guys in this team that weren't going to just let that happen."
And this classic rivalry wasn’t the only one to fight over flag placement on gameday. The University of North Carolina and North Carolina State teams also came to blows after NC State declared victory over UNC, attempting to plant their flag on the Tarheel’s field. The two athletic directors released a joint statement in the aftermath of the fight.
According to WRAL News, the ADs said, “We’re disappointed by the conduct of some members of our football programs at the conclusion of our game on Saturday at Kenan Stadium. While the game was emotional and the Carolina-NC State rivalry is intense, we must always display good sportsmanship and represent our universities and the Atlantic Coast Conference with respect.”
Even further South, a similar fight broke out between Florida and Florida State, and out West Arizona and Arizona State came to blows following their rivalry game as well.
