College football’s rivalry week has become even more exciting this year due to the attempted flag planting incident. This isn’t an entirely new trend, as former Oklahoma QB Baker Mayfield can attest. He may have been one of the first people to remember doing that act when he did it at Ohio State in 2017.
That’s exactly what Michigan players tried to do at the 50-yard line Saturday after an upset win over their hated rival before a scuffle broke out. This was not the only time in competitive games that the winner would plant a flag after the final whistle.
Florida also tried to fly the Gators flag against Florida State in a rivalry game. Additionally, North Carolina State put up a flag at midfield after a win against North Carolina State, and Arizona State players placed pitchforks at the 50-yard line against Arizona State. Brief skirmishes ensued in these situations, but none were as hostile as the Michigan vs. Ohio State game.
Mayfield, currently QB for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, gave his opinion on all the flag planting happening in the college ranks over the weekend.
“OU-Texas does that every time they play,” Mayfield said. “It’s nothing special. I accept (the loss) and move on. I’ll leave it behind.
“College football is about rivalries. It’s like the Big 12 banning the ‘horns down’ signal. Just let the guys play.”
Michigan and Ohio State have settled. Each person will be fined $100,000. by the Big Ten for their role in the post-flag brawl. After Michigan won 13-10, several players started pushing and shoving. Police also had to intervene..
Mayfield had a big season in 2017, leading Oklahoma to a 31-16 victory over Ohio State. In that very same campaign, Mayfield won the Heisman Trophy and was ultimately selected by the Cleveland Browns with the No. 1 pick in the 2018 NFL Draft.
