Ohio lawmaker introduces bill to make planting flag at OSU stadium a felony

Loading Video…

This browser does not support the Video element.

Michigan, Ohio State postgame fights lead to big fines for both schools

Both the University of Michigan and Ohio State University were slapped with $100,000 from the Big Ten Conference for postgame fights that broke out on the field Saturday.

A felony? For planting a flag on their field? Come on Ohio.

Ohio State University is still hurting from that stinging loss to the University of Michigan, and it appears it's not done griping about the rivalry loss.

The brouhaha that stemmed from the end of the UM-OSU game when Wolverine football players attempted to plant their flag at the center of the field is still making waves - this time in the Ohio legislature. 

House Bill 700 would revise the penal code of Ohio to make planting a flagpole and a flag in the center of horse shoe stadium a crime.

Aptly named the O.H.I.O. Sportsmanship Act, it states "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," the bill reads. "Whoever violates this section is guilty of a felony of the fifth degree."

It was introduced by state Rep. Josh Williams, a graduate of the University of Toledo, where he received his J.D. from their law school.

Michigan, OSU each fined $100,000 for post game fighting

The Big Ten Conference quickly looked at fight footage and decided to issue each school a $100,000 fine for their roles in the melee.

It's unlikely a bill of this severity would clear any committee. It was introduced on Tuesday.

Michigan beat Ohio State 13-10, despite being underdogs in the "The Game," riding strong defense and an impressive running game from Kalel Mullings.

But it was the skirmish afterwards that drew the bigger headlines when police officers used pepper spray to break up the fight. Punches were thrown and each school was fined $100,000