COLUMBUS, Ohio — A brawl exploded Saturday between Michigan and Ohio State, when the Wolverines planted their flag at midfield within the Horseshoe following their beautiful 13-10 upset of the second-ranked Buckeyes.
Police ultimately used pepper spray to quash the scuffle that lasted roughly 5 minutes. Players and coaches from each side have been left bloodied from the pushing and shoving. As the Wolverines gathered on the Block O brand in celebration, a number of Ohio State gamers rushed in throwing punches. Michigan gamers punched again.
Both Wolverines coach Sherrone Moore and Ohio State athletic director Ross Bjork have been amongst those that tried to interrupt up the a number of skirmishes that broke out. Several law enforcement officials ultimately stepped in and tried to type a line separating the 2 groups.
Ohio State police stated in a press release that “officers from a number of regulation enforcement companies assisted in breaking apart an on-field altercation. During the scuffle, a number of officers representing Ohio and Michigan deployed pepper spray.” Ohio State police stated it would proceed to research the incident.
Buckeyes coach Ryan Day later blamed Michigan for beginning the melee by planting the flag.
“I do not know all the small print of it, however I do know these guys wish to put a flag on our discipline and our guys weren’t going to let that occur,” Day stated. “I’ll discover out precisely what occurred. But that is our discipline and positively we’re embarrassed of the truth that we misplaced the sport, however there’s some prideful guys on this group that weren’t going to simply let that occur.”
The Wolverines got here in a 20.5 underdog, the second-biggest unfold within the rivalry relationship again to 1978. But after a scoreless second half, Dominic Zvada nailed a 21-yard discipline aim with 45 seconds remaining, giving Michigan its fourth straight win within the collection.
Wolverines All-American defensive deal with Mason Graham and Ohio State defensive finish Jack Sawyer emphatically traded insults because the incident lastly waned, with a number of Michigan gamers waving bye to the Buckeyes as they lastly walked away.
Kaleel Mullings, who rushed for 116 yards and scored the Wolverines’ solely landing, referred to as the Buckeyes “classless” for making an attempt to struggle afterward.
“For such an important sport, you hate to see stuff like that after the sport,” he stated. “This is unhealthy for the game and unhealthy for school soccer, however on the finish of the day, some individuals have gotta learn to lose. You cannot be combating and stuff simply since you misplaced a sport. All that combating – we had 60 minutes, we had 4 quarters to do all that combating, and now, individuals wanna discuss and struggle. … individuals have gotta be higher.”