Singer and actress Fantasia Barrino sings the national anthem prior to the 2024 CFP National Championship game between the Washington Huskies and Michigan Wolverines at NRG Stadium on January 08, 2024 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Carmen Mandato/Getty Images)
What's the big deal? Plant your flag at midfield if you win a rivalry college football game on the road! If the home team doesn't like it then tell them to stop it by winning the game. But don't start a fight instead. That looks stupid and childish. In case you missed it this weekend, unranked Michigan traveled to #2 Ohio State and physically beat them up. Then pulled off the upset before taking their huge Michigan flag and planted it on the Buckeyes 50 yard line. Ohio State didn't like that and a huge fight ensued between all parties. Police and pepper spray were involved. At least one officer was injured and a Big Ten Network reporter on the field took a direct shot of pepper spray in the eye.
Afterward, embattled Ohio State football coach Ryan Day failed to be the adult in the room and said, "Yeah, we cannot allow them to do that on our field." I guess he condoned it. Wrong answer. Here's an idea... if you don't want the opponent planting flags then win the football game.
And because Ryan Day did the wrong thing and acted like everything was okay, we saw this play out over and over again Saturday in the Florida State - Florida game, the NC State - North Carolina game, and the Arizona State - Arizona game.
PLANT YOUR FLAG
Ironically, the first similar incident we can recall where this happened was in 2017 when Oklahoma quarterback Baker Mayfield planted the Sooner flag at the 50 yard line at - wait for it - Ohio State.
We say plant your flag at midfield and claim your hard earned victory on a visitor's field. Unfortunately we think the hapless NCAA will create some rule against such actions sooner than later.
Having said all of that, this past college football rivalry weekend was one of the best ever and we are all about it every weekday from 2-6pm on ESPN Southwest Florida on Craig Shemon and Company.
