Flag planting sparked scuffles during rivalry week this past Week 14 of the college football season, notably in “The Game,” and has been a hot topic of conversation since. The day commenced with Michigan football pulling off the biggest surprise in its rivalry against Ohio State, a 13-10 victory over the then-No. 2 ranked team […]
Flag planting sparked scuffles during rivalry week this past Week 14 of the college football season, notably in “The Game,” and has been a hot topic of conversation since.
The day commenced with Michigan football pulling off the biggest surprise in its rivalry against Ohio State, a 13-10 victory over the then-No. 2 ranked team in the nation. After the Wolverines‘ triumph, the squad planted their flag at midfield of Ohio Stadium, inciting a brawl.
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The subject remained a focal point during ESPN’s “College GameDay” preceding the SEC championship between Georgia and Texas on Saturday, where former Alabama coach Nick Saban voiced his firm opinion on flag planting.
“First, I believe we need some guidelines,” Saban remarked concerning teams planting flags. “To impose a $100,000 fine on these schools is as trivial as worrying about mouse droppings while your head is buried in elephant dung.”
The Big Ten Conference penalized Michigan and Ohio State $100,000 for breaching the “Big Ten Sportsmanship Policy.”
NC State mimicked the action after its victory over in-state rival UNC, followed by Florida after defeating Florida State for the first time in three years. Each instance led to a confrontation, including Seminoles’ coach Mike Norvell throwing the Florida flag and clashing with Gators‘ coach Billy Napier.
Both Norvell and Napier commented on the incident post-game, with Napier stating, “There will be repercussions for all parties involved” after the game. Saban echoed his former assistant coach regarding the Crimson Tide.
“I’d be more frustrated with my team attempting to plant the flag because I find that disrespectful and lacking in sportsmanship,” Saban stated. “You want to overcome the opposing team, but this disrespectfulness is probably not a commendable aspect of the game. We must safeguard the brand.
“Players desire compensation, which they now receive, and they must contribute to preserving the brand. The NFL safeguards its brand. So when actions detrimental to the game occur, players need to recognize how to protect the brand and exhibit sportsmanship so that fans can connect positively with the game.”
This article first appeared on Detroit Free Press: Nick Saban talks flag planting on ‘College GameDay’ after ‘The Game’
