Flag-planting festivities spark fights at several college football rivalry games

Florida State and Florida players brawl at midfield after an NCAA college football game Saturday, Nov. 30, 2024, in Tallahassee, Fla. (AP Photo/Colin Hackley) — Florida State and Florida players brawl at midfield after the Gators’ 31-11 win in Tallahassee, Fla. (AP Photo/Colin Hackley) (THE ASSOCIATED PRESS)

College football was a fighting sport in the rivalry on Saturday.

Rivalry week matchups are always fueled by tension and resentment. But four annual clashes ended in fights between the opponents, when the winning road team tried to plant a flag on the opponent’s home field to score a victory.

Each fight was notable for different reasons. But they were all provoked by similar feelings. The victors wanted to make a statement, while the vanquished wanted to protect their ground and prevent further indignity.

Pepper spray used in the Michigan-Ohio State fight

The melee that got the biggest spotlight happened at the end Michigan’s 13-10 win fish Ohio State in Columbus. Wolverines players brought a corn flag bearing the block “M” to midfield and threw it onto the Ohio Stadium turf. The Buckeyes took exception to the gesture and confronted their opponents, resulting in several players pushing and shoving each other with fists thrown.

Unfortunately, what made the Michigan-Ohio fight stand out was the involvement of the coaches, security personnel and police to break up the melee. In the process, law enforcement officers used pepper spray to subdue the players, with several bystanders also being affected.

Ohio State University Police issued a statement on social media saying the matter is under investigation.

“Following the game, officers from multiple law enforcement agencies assisted in breaking up an altercation on the field,” the statement read. “During the standoff, several officers representing Ohio and Michigan used pepper spray. OSUPD is the lead agency for gaming and will continue to investigate.”

NC State flag almost thrown into the stands by UNC

A similar brawl broke out after State of North Carolinahis 35-30 win fish North Carolina in Chapel Hill. Following the win, which made the Wolfpack bowl eligible, NC State players brought a red school flag to midfield with the intention of planting it in the turf.

However, Tar Heels players tackled their opponents to prevent them from throwing the flag onto the Kenan Memorial Stadium field. Pushing and shoving from North Carolina quickly ensued Tylee Craft eventually he took the flag and tried to throw it into the stands. Wolfpack players DK Kaufman and Jacarrius Peak pushed Craft before the trainers entered.

UNC coach Mack Brown coaching his final regular season game with the Tar Heels after being fired earlier this weekshared his thoughts on the altercation.

“I don’t know what happened in the end,” Brown said, via The Fayetteville Observer. “Someone said they tried to plant their flag on our field. I said two years ago that it was disrespectful.”

The Florida-Florida State game brings out the coaches

Trainers were more directly involved in the ensuing brawl Florida defeated State of Florida, 31-11. Gators defensive end George Gumbs Jr. planted a black Florida flag on the grass at FSU’s Doak Campbell Stadium. Florida State players led by Jeremiah Byers and Julian Armella ran to midfield to retrieve the flag, leading to a scrimmage between the two teams.

Seminoles coach Mike Norvell grabbed the flag and tossed it aside. He then confronted Florida coach Billy Napier and told his counterpart that he didn’t like what happened.

“I told him what I thought. They won the game – they have a right to celebrate like we have in previous years,” Norvell said afterward, via Tomahawk Nation. “If you want to come and do that, that’s your decision to have in the team – but I told him what I thought.”

Napier did not support the planting of the flag and apologized for the incident.

“Obviously what happened there at the end of the game is not who we want to be as a program,” Napier said. via the Associated Press. “It’s embarrassing for me and it’s a distraction from a very well played football game. I want to apologize on behalf of the entire organization just in terms of how we represented the university there. We shouldn’t have this. We won’t do this. Do this before and there will be consequences for everyone involved.”

Many of Napier’s fellow coaches could express similar sentiments to their players after what happened this weekend.

Pitchforks, not flags involved in Arizona State-Arizona

Flags weren’t the only object planted by the victorious road team in a rivalry game Saturday. After no. 16 Arizona Statehis 49-7 win fish ArizonaSun Devils defensive lineman Jacob Rich Kongaika — who played his previous two seasons with the Wildcats — took their mascot’s signature fork and stabbed it into the midfield logo at Arizona Stadium.

receiver Arizona Montana Lemonious-Craig he ran to get the pitchfork out of the grass and away from Kongaika. That brought several other Arizona State players to help their teammate and protect the fork.

Speaking to reporters afterwardsWildcats running back Quali Conley said Kongaika’s actions were “disrespectful.”

“This is our domain. Just doing that was disrespectful,” Conley said. “I just feel like that wasn’t necessary.”

Asked about the fight by PHNX SportsArizona State star running back Like Skattebo said, “I didn’t know that happened, but it’s great.”