Cause: Acting like hyenas immediately after the win and planting the flag in the middle of the opponents field as an intended offensive gesture.
Effect: A mob that is significantly larger than the police can handle becomes extremely violent, very quickly.
The tens/hundreds of cops can’t do anything about tens of thousands of unruly people.
Cause and effect. Identify the cause, implement rules/laws to prevent the effect.
In this case, we are protecting the players, the police, and the fans by simply saying “Ok, it’s clear this flag planting stuff leads to problems, so let’s make that the choke point. No more flag planting = no more unruly mob.”
It’s an overreaction to an action that is not even banned by the conference. It’s pretty simple to “police” outside of passing a law in the state of Ohio. Have the Big Ten ban flag planting with a specified punishment if it does happen. Problem solved.
The Flag planting is basically fighting words. It doesn’t need to be a felonym lol. But the NCAA needs to ban it. There is no place for it in the game.
Do we not consider how impactful a felony can be to someone’s life? Do we really believe that planting a flag is a felony worthy behavior?
I agree that if we want the action gone the leagues should be the ones to legislate it out… for a state government to even try and do this instead of strong arming the league to do it for them makes it seem like they lost the plot.
It’s not that simple. Ban flag planting. Sure. The players will just do something different to celebrate. There will always be something new. Players are going to celebrate after a massive rivalry win.
What if they remove the pole and lay the flag over the O? By my reading of this proposed law this would be legal. Ohio specifies banning the pole. You can kick up the O, you can lay on the O, you can form an M on the O, just don’t bring out a pole or it’s a felony.
OR
Have the Big Ten come up with rules on post game celebrations. It’s so much easier than having politicians in one state try to figure it out for…one state.
If we’re going to start legislating celebrating a victory where does it end.
So no planting a flag at “mid-field”. (Please define mid-field)
How about planting a flag just outside the radius of mid-field?
How about celebrating at mid-field with a flag and not planting it?
How about celebrating at mid-field without a flag?
How about using a banner instead of a flag?
Celebrations can go as far as the imagination can take it and I guarantee if something like this were to pass the players are going to figure out a way around this stupid law that will make it even worse.
I think planting an imaginary flag is the way to go!! you can’t actually see it but you know it’s there. But what if the other team knows it’s imaginary, they are gonna be pissed off still!
Oh there is no question about it. One state, and in this case an arch rival, threatening players with felonies will be seen as nothing but an escalation. They will find a way around any potential law to give that state the finger.
I’m all about considering the slippery slope arguments when it comes to actual legislation, but this is a bad argument if we’re talking about conference or NCAA rules.
All they have to do is amend the sportsmanship policies to address post-game celebrations. The wording can be vague enough for future interpretation.
Frankly, I wish the schools and coaches would be even harsher. As a Michigan grad, I want Michigan Men to be bigger than that, and I think the institution should agree with that take.
Does the NCAA and media own anything in this? They pump this up as war every season. Harbaugh even commented on that last year. I’ll try and dig it up.
I’m all about not adding laws whenever possible. I am not pro-overreach here. It sure does seem simpler to just have the Big Ten, or the NCAA entirely, ban the act of planting flags - or any over the top celebratory gesture after a game in its entirety before creating state laws for this kind of stuff.
Laws around this does, indeed, seem like a HUGE overreach.
If people can’t control themselves though, something needs to happen. If/when massive brawls start, someone needs to be accountable for pushing the 1st domino that cascaded the event.
you can’t actually see it but you know it’s there. But what if the other team knows it’s imaginary, they are gonna be pissed off still!