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Ohio lawmaker proposes bill to make on-field flag-planting a felony
By Paul Harvey
Published:
Ohio State is still reeling from its fourth straight loss to Michigan in The Game, and one Ohio lawmaker is reportedly taking drastic measures after the ugly postgame scene.
Following a 13-10 win inside Ohio Stadium, the Wolverines tried to plant a Michigan flag at midfield. The program did the same thing after a dramatic win in 2022, but things quickly went sideways this year.
The Buckeyes did not take kindly to the gesture, and a massive brawl at midfield erupted between the two teams. That scene also involved police officers using pepper spray on Michigan players.
Now, with that game in the rearview mirror, one Ohio lawmaker is attempting to make flag-planting at Ohio Stadium a felony. According to The Columbus Dispatch, state representative Josh Williams introduced the O.H.I.O. Sportsmanship Act on Tuesday.
If House Bill 700 passes, it would “prohibit planting a flagpole and flag in the center of the Ohio Stadium football field on the day of a college football game and to name this act the O.H.I.O. Sportsmanship Act.”
House Speaker Jason Stephens indicated to the Dispatch that there will not be enough time for the bill to pass by the end of the year. And if it doesn’t, the bill will need to be reintroduced.
Of course, many have noted that this seems to be much ado about nothing, especially with Ryan Day’s program holding the key to preventing such endeavors in the future. All the Buckeyes have to do is beat Michigan, and all of this would never happen.
But considering Day is now 1-4 against “TTUN,” there’s probably a reason why Ohio State fans are leery of this happening again.
Paul Harvey lives in Atlanta and covers SEC football.
