Flag planting at Ohio State could become a felony offense if one lawmaker has his way.
The recent clash between the Buckeyes and the Ohio State Wolverines culminated in an all-out brawl after a player from the latter program attempted to stick a school flag into the Ohio turf.
The act resulted in quite the melee, with police even needing to use pepper spray to get things under control.
Now, state Rep. Josh Williams has proposed a bill that would make it a crime to plant a rival flag at the center of Ohio Stadium, per the Port Clinton News Herald.
The lawmaker is pushing the O.H.I.O. Sportsmanship Act, which, according to the News Herald, would “prohibit planting a flagpole and flag in the center of the Ohio Stadium football field on the day of a college football game.”
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Ohio State Flag-Planting Law Will Not Be Passed This Year, If Ever
Contravention of this law, if approved, would result in a fifth-degree felony. Still, the possibility of this going through and becoming legislation is slim as House Speaker Jason Stephens has indicated that the bill is “not gonna have time to get passed” before the General Assembly closes things off next week.
If Williams is really serious about this, he will have to make the proposal again next season.
Meanwhile, both schools have been fined $100,000 for the incident, which is probably the better way to go about punishing players for their actions as opposed to having them arrested and charged for planting a flag.
Seems a bit excessive, no?
Also Read: REPORT: Michigan & Ohio State Receive Punishments After Nasty Brawl Following Big Ten Rivalry Game
