After a day of flags getting planted on logos, plenty of on-field scuffles and even police intervention, Texas football coach Steve Sarkisian wasn’t having it.
The Longhorns were in good spirits after defeating the Aggies for the first time since 2011. Good enough spirits to cause a little mischief. When Sarkisian saw his players congregating at the center of Kyle Field he immediately ran over, yelling “no” repeatedly and shooing them toward the sideline.
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“I just watched Ohio State and Michigan getting a full-fledged brawl in my hotel room today, and I just didn’t think it was right,” Sarkisian said in his postgame press conference.
Texas planted its flag after defeating Michigan 31-12 earlier this season. However, the rivalry between the Wolverines and the Buckeyes is different.
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The aforementioned brawl came after Michigan’s 13-10 win over Ohio State. Buckeyes and Wolverines were swinging fists at each other and police officers intervened, pepper-spraying a few of the players. Through it all, Ohio State coach Ryan Day stood on the side as the teams hashed it out.
After the game, Day said he and his team were unwilling to let Michigan put a flag in the middle of Ohio Stadium. That was not the only flag-related incident that sparked a fight Saturday.
Florida planted its mark after beating Florida State. Arizona State stabbed its trident in the middle of Arizona’s A. North Carolina State placed its flag on the UNC logo. Helmets and fists flew for all of these incidents and for Sarkisian, it seems it was especially important that Texas keep the peace after such a wild day in college football.
“Rivalries are great, but there’s a way to win with class. And I just didn’t think that’s the right thing to do. We shouldn’t be on their logo,” Sarkisian said.
Call him a traditionalist, but let’s be clear: It doesn’t seem like Sarkisian would accept another team waving its flag on Texas’ logo either.
“I’d like to (think), whenever that day comes, (we) get the same respect in return,” the coach said.
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