Ohio lawmaker aims to make flag planting a felony

An Ohio lawmaker introduced a bill that would make it a felony to plant a school flag in the center of the field at Ohio State Stadium. The brawl between Ohio State and Michigan after the Nov. 30 game inspired the proposal.

After the Wolverines beat the Buckeyes 13-10, Michigan players planted their school flag on the OSU logo at center field. Buckeye athletes immediately confronted the Michigan players.

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Multiple law enforcement agencies broke up the fight, some using pepper spray. The Big Ten Conference fined both schools $100,000.

WARNING: VIDEO CONTAINS PROFANITY
The Franklin County Sheriff's Office has released bodycam footage from the Ohio State/Michigan post-game scuffle. pic.twitter.com/RHKaSBZyat

— 13 Action News (@13abc) December 10, 2024

Addressing the issue

Republican State Rep. Josh Williams said he wants to draw attention to the issue and force athletic departments to address it.

“They need to ban this conduct internally, they need to encourage their football or basketball programs that this type of conduct is not allowed and we need to teach sportsmanship all the way from the peewee level into college and even the professional level,” Williams said.

Williams proposed flag planting be a fifth-degree felony if passed. Those convicted would face a mandatory 6-12 months in prison and up to a $2500 fine. 

Too late to consider bill this legislative session

Williams acknowledged he introduced the one-page bill too late to pass this legislative session, which ends during the week of Dec. 16. That didn’t stop him from drafting it.

“One, I want to make sure that we preserve the safety of our law enforcement officers that are providing security at our stadiums,” he said. “Two, we provide safety for our student-athletes so they do not risk substantial injury because of an encounter like this and we also preserve the integrity of our institutions.”

Scuffles over flag planting broke out at other rivalries the same weekend.

With the Ohio State vs. Michigan rivalry alternating back to Ann Arbor in 2025, Williams has not decided whether to reintroduce the bill next year.