Let’s go back to that Saturday. The flag gets planted, a group of students rush the field, the rest of the fans follow (This is how mobs usually start). A cop and a UM player are beat within an inch of their life and a cop shoots 2 violent fans who had way too much to drink.
Is that still a 1 game suspension or are we getting into an area where we say “We’ve probably got to put a tighter lid on this”.
It all seems ridiculous…that’s for sure. I can see it happening, especially in this day and age though. I have to admit I can see the logic behind adding more serious penalties designed to prevent problems.
Many of us are pointing fingers at OSU for being soft but if you zoom out and analyze this situation, it really more boils down to UM being obnoxious here imo.
I’m more for preventing “obnoxious” than I am penalizing “soft”, especially when “soft” means you’re supposed to just sit there and take an insulting gesture right in the teeth on your home field. Play dumb games, win dumb prizes…
I don’t think so, no. That’s the point of sports - to get riled up and enjoy the competition. When the game is over, we accept it, shake hands, and move on.
The fans were not charging the field after college game day. The police were not administering pepper spray after game day. They did so after the flag was planted.
Game day has riled up fans all over the country for years and those things did not happen as a result. Flags have been planted several times as well, and there have been a few cases now where this leads to bad things.
Do you think this made the Michigan players more or less likely to plant a flag after the win? I’m just saying if we want to get to cause, it doesn’t start and stop with a flag.
Because a lot of things happen during a game without an act of violence taking place. Michigan planting a flag is no more disrespectful than a team trying to get in the face of another team before a game. It’s how someone responds.
The fight was the problem. Someone chose to start that. You can say the flag is the crime, literally, and I will counter getting in someone’s face can cause a fight. In the end someone has to throw the first punch. So if you want to get into what “caused” someone to throw a punch, you’re getting into murky water. That is the only point I’m trying to make here, and involving politicians doesn’t make it less murky.
In reality it’s probably one or two guys who started this, but a team will defend a team. I understand that.
Federal law covers soliciting someone to commit a crime of violence. Anyone who solicits, commands, or induces someone to commit a felony can lead to penalties up to and including jail time.
If my “F off” in this scenario is the primary thing that instigates and triggers the death, I ultimately may also be somewhat accountable for the results.
As always, context exists. There are also reasons why this may not be the case. For example, if I was not the instigator, but was instead the person being harassed or otherwise assaulted, and my “F Off” was more of a defensive thing than no, probably not.
Context is important for this one - but I get the rationale for sure.
I definitely agree regarding politicians / laws becoming involved in the entire thing. It’s a shame that this even needs to be considered.
Nevertheless, this is what rules and laws are all about. If/when people are doing things that often lead to problems, things are put in place at whatever is considered to be the primary point of escalation to said problems.
Drinking and driving, for example.
“You were drunk and ran over 6 people”
“It’s not MY fault. My wife made me drink because she’s so crazy!”
This isn’t the wife’s fault here…even though maybe it is
Ridiculous. Its way more disrespectful. You already beat that team. The talk was before the game. Your play did the talking. Winning should be enough. There is zero place for such disrespect. The kids should be taught better.
I think the simple answer is if you don’t want tasered by the home town police, don’t do stupid shit like try to plant the flag at your opponents stadium. It won’t go over well.
