GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (WOOD) — Days after the postgame melee between the Michigan and Ohio State football teams, an Ohio state lawmaker has introduced a new bill that would make “flag planting” within Ohio Stadium a felony criminal offense.
The bill, dubbed the O.H.I.O. Sportsmanship Act, was introduced on Tuesday by state Rep. Josh Williams, a Republican who represents a district bordering Michigan, north of Toledo.
It comes less than two weeks after a fight broke out following the Wolverines' 13-10 upset win over the Buckeyes in Columbus. Following the game, Michigan players brought a flag to midfield as part of their celebration. A group of OSU players took offense and charged back onto the field. A fight ensued and several police officers used pepper spray to try and break it up.
Nexstar's WCMH in Columbus reported that one officer suffered a head injury during the fight and was hospitalized for a day. He was expected to miss work for a couple of weeks.
The Big Ten Conference fined Michigan and Ohio State $100,000 each for violating the conference's sportsmanship policy for the on-field melee.
“Not only did the actions of both teams violate fundamental elements of sportsmanship such as respect and civility, the nature of the incident also jeopardized the safety of participants and bystanders,” the Big Ten said in a statement Sunday.
The fight also sparked debates about “flag planting” and postgame protocols.
The bill reads: “No person shall plant a flagpole with a flag attached to it in the center of the football field at Ohio Stadium of the Ohio State University on the day of a college football competition, whether before, during or after the competition.”
Williams has yet to publicly address the new bill and did not explain why the proposed legislation would only apply to OSU’s field and not any other institution.
The charge would be labeled a “fifth-degree felony,” which is the lowest level felony offense in Ohio. However, the maximum sentence is up to 12 months in prison, a fine of up to $2,500, and up to five years of probation.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
