‘Absolute insanity’: Ugly Pepper spray act rocks America
Ugly scenes have shocked America with police investigating a post-game brawl that is going viral for all the wrong reasons.
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Ugly scenes have shocked America with police investigating a post-game brawl that is going viral for all the wrong reasons.
A grudge match between the University of Michigan and Ohio State on Sunday morning erupted into a rolling fight involving more than 20 players.
It was a cheeky act from Wolverines (Michigan) players that triggered such an angry response from their opposition just moments after Michigan’s upset 13-10 win on enemy soil.
You can watch the brawl in the video player above.
A heated brawl erupted when Michigan players tried to plant their university flag on Ohio State’s logo at Ohio Stadium — and Ohio players were not willing to accept the personal insult.
Multiple players could be seen going at it as security, police and team staff tried to separate them.
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Michigan edge rusher Derrick Moore was in the middle of melee, holding his team’s flag and trying to plant it on the Buckeyes’ famed logo, The New York Post reports.
And Ohio State linebacker Jack Sawyer, who had an interception in the game, ripped the Michigan flag away from the Wolverine players before tensions finally calmed down.
“I don’t know all the details of it, but I know these guys are looking to put a flag on our field and our guys weren’t not gonna let that happen,” Ohio State head coach Ryan Day said after the game.
“I’ll find out exactly what happened, but this is our field. We certainly were embarrassed of the fact that we lost the game, but there’s some prideful guys on this team that weren’t just gonna let that happen.”
Local police confirmed in a statement pepper spray was used, with members of both teams getting hit.
Several Michigan players were shown on the Fox broadcast rubbing their eyes in obvious discomfort.
“For such a great game, you hate to see stuff like that after the game,” Michigan running back Kalel Mullings said.
“That’s just bad for the sport, bad for college football. But at the end of the day, some people gotta learn how to lose.
“You can’t be fighting and stuff just because you lost a game. All that fighting, we had 60 minutes, we had four quarters to do all that fighting.
“And now people want to talk and fight, that’s wrong. It’s just bad for the game. Classless, in my opinion. People gotta better.”
Saturday’s game marked Michigan’s fourth-straight in the famed rivalry, though they entered this edition unranked and as massive underdogs with Ohio State ranked No. 2 in the country.
Michigan now sits at 7-5, while Ohio State is 10-2.
As the fracas finally began to settle down, Michigan defensive lineman Mason Graham could be heard shouting “Ohio State p***ies” in the Buckeyes’ direction.”
Michigan edge rusher Chibi Anwunah was escorted away by security after being pepper sprayed.
Michigan head coach Sherrone Moore also waved goodbye to Ohio State fans in the final seconds of the game.
“Unnecessary gesture by the Wolverines,” Fox play-by-play man Gus Johnson said of the postgame incident.
Wolverines quarterback David Warren threw for just 62 yards and two interceptions, but Mullings rushed for 116 yards and a touchdown and Michigan’s defence stifled the Buckeyes offence throughout the game.
“They won the game, no need to be disrespectful.”
Ohio State University Police said its investigation into the incident is ongoing.
“Following the game, officers from multiple law enforcement agencies assisted in breaking up an on-field altercation. During the scuffle, multiple officers representing Ohio and Michigan deployed pepper spray. OSUPD is the lead agency for games & will continue to investigate,” the department said in a statement on X, formerly known as Twitter.
The reaction from American commentators has been scathing.
Fox football commentator Jason McIntyre wrote on X: “Understand the anger from Ohio State, no showing in their biggest game, but this garbage is uncalled for. Embarrassing”.
Sportscaster and former college coach Urban Meyer said in the live telecast on Fox: “I’ve been involved in The Game for 50 years and I can’t remember seeing something like that. There’s no room for that.”
Fox Sports college football commentator RJ Young posted on X: “Ohio State fans will never recover from this.”
American sport commentator Joe Pompliano highlighted one case of Michigan player Mason Graham being pepper sprayed even though he appeared to be nowhere near any of the physical confrontations unfolding.
“He walks in to help a teammate off the ground and gets pepper sprayed by a cop. Absolutely insane.”
Ohio State quarterback Will Howard struggled, throwing for 175 yards, one touchdown and two interceptions.
Buckeyes kicker Jeyden Fielding also missed two short field goals, while Michigan kicker Dominic Zvada drilled both his attempts.
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