Baker Mayfield, the quarterback for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and a former Oklahoma star, weighed in on the recent spate of postgame brawls stemming from celebratory flag planting in college football. Following an exciting Rivalry Weekend that saw incidents at several games, including Michigan’s upset over Ohio State, Mayfield emphasized that such displays are an inherent part of college football culture.
During this contentious weekend, fights broke out at four different matches as teams celebrated victories by planting flags at their rivals’ home fields. Mayfield is often credited with popularizing this trend in 2017 when he famously planted his team’s flag at Ohio State after a victory. Reflecting on the current events, he urged teams to accept losses gracefully without resorting to brawls following games.
“OU-Texas does it every time they play,” Mayfield noted, suggesting that rivalries helped shape the essence of college football. He remarked on the absurdity of trying to ban such traditions, likening it to restricting the ‘horns down’ gesture in the Big 12. “College football is meant to have rivalries. Just let the boys play.”
In the aftermath of the Michigan-Ohio State confrontation, where the police had to use pepper spray to diffuse tensions between players, both teams were fined $100,000 by the Big Ten Conference. While some proponents have called for banning flag planting to prevent such conflicts, Mayfield stands firmly against that notion, reinforcing the spirit of competition and rivalry that defines the sport.
This commentary points towards a broader theme in sports culture: the celebration of intense rivalry is vital for the atmosphere of college football. By embracing these traditions, teams can cultivate an exciting environment, even if emotions sometimes boil over.
In summary, while emotions can run high and actions may lead to conflicts, the essence of college football lies in its passionate rivalries and traditions, as Mayfield advocates.