College football rivalries have always been a spectacle, but recent events have taken things to a whole new level. The actions of Raheem Anderson and Tavierre Dunlap at the Michigan-Ohio State game, along with similar incidents across the country, have sparked a heated debate about sportsmanship and respect.

Unraveling the Chaos of College Football Rivalry Flag Planting

Raheem Anderson and Tavierre Dunlap's Flag Planting at Michigan-Ohio State

The most active Raheem Anderson and Tavierre Dunlap engaged in on Saturday was after The Game. These two teammates came together to plant their giant Michigan flag right in the center of Ohio Stadium. The reaction from Ohio State players was as expected, leading to a type of ugly brawl that is rarely seen in the 127-year history of this great series. It was a moment that shocked the college football world and set off a chain of similar events.There is no denying the significance of this act. It not only showed a lack of respect for the opposing team but also highlighted the growing issue of sportsmanship in college football. The incident sparked a heated discussion among fans and experts alike, with many questioning the actions of the players and the need for stricter penalties.

Jacob Kongaika's Flag Planting at Arizona State-Arizona

Hours later, Jacob Kongaika, a former Arizona defensive end who transferred to Arizona State, planted the Sun Devils' spear in the center of Arizona's logo. The Sun Devils entered as 9-point favorites and won by a whopping 42 points. This raised the question of why such an act was necessary when the team had already secured a convincing victory.It's not uncommon for teams to show their dominance on the field, but flag planting takes it to a whole new level. This incident added to the growing list of similar events and further emphasized the need for better sportsmanship in college football.

George Gumbs Jr.'s Flag Planting at Florida-Florida State

Florida's George Gumbs Jr. planted the flag on Florida State's field after the Gators won 31-11, igniting another fight. Florida State coach Mike Norvell was the one to tear the flag out of the ground, showing his frustration with the actions of the opposing team.This incident highlighted the volatile nature of college football rivalries and the need for players to control their emotions. It also raised questions about the role of coaches in preventing such incidents from happening.

NC State's Attempted Flag Planting at North Carolina

North Carolina State entered as a slight underdog on the road at North Carolina and celebrated its 35-30 win with an attempted flag plant at midfield. The game ended similarly to Ohio State-Michigan with a brawl between the two teams.There was little at stake other than NC State becoming bowl-eligible, but the actions of the players showed a lack of respect for the opponent and the game. This incident added to the growing list of flag planting incidents and further highlighted the need for stricter penalties.

Texas Players' Near-Field Incident at Texas A&M

Even Texas players headed toward the logo at Texas A&M after beating the Aggies 17-7. Safety Andrew Mukuba got a few stomps in before Longhorns coach Steve Sarkisian rerouted his players back toward the end zone. And again, police were standing by to protect midfield.This incident showed that the issue of flag planting and disrespectful behavior is not limited to just a few teams. It is a widespread problem that needs to be addressed before it gets out of hand.There is a simple solution to all of this. The NCAA can fine teams and suspend any players who attempt to denigrate the logo, emblem or property of an opposing team. It may seem heavy-handed, but it is necessary to send a clear message that such behavior will not be tolerated.In the past, there have been other moments similar to this in the Ohio State-Michigan series, such as Ohio State players tearing down Michigan's banner in 1973 and David Boston and Charles Woodson scuffling on the opening series in 1997. But none of these incidents involved police and pepper spray.The use of pepper spray by police on the field was a wild overreaction and an unnecessary use of force. Next time, let the coaches handle it. Coaches have been breaking up fights between teams for decades and are better equipped to handle such situations.There was a time when former Ohio State coach Jim Tressel spoke frequently about the respect Ohio State and Michigan shared for each other. It was a fierce rivalry, but it was usually clean. Fights and cheap shots were rarely part of it. But now, things have changed.The Buckeyes had 60 minutes to fight on the field and chose to wait until after the game to throw their best punch. An embarrassing loss to a mediocre Michigan team Saturday officially stamps OSU coach Ryan Day as the new John Cooper. It also turned this rivalry to a degree we haven't witnessed in 30 years.Michigan won the last three games in this series with excellent teams that competed for national championships (and won one). This Wolverines team didn't have a quarterback capable of throwing for even 100 yards and still won the game. Ohio State seniors who returned to school for the expressed purpose of winning this game now depart campus with nothing but a few more college credits."For such a great game, you hate to see stuff like that after the game," Michigan running back Kalel Mullings told the Fox broadcast crew moments after the players were separated. "It's just bad for the sport, bad for college football. But at the end of the day, some people gotta learn how to lose, man. You can't be fighting just because you lost the game."His Wolverines teammates could use a tutorial on how to win, too. "You hate to see stuff like that after the game. It's just bad for the sport, bad for CFB… They gotta learn how to lose man. You can't be fighting."I'll give Mullings the benefit of the doubt. In that moment, maybe he didn't realize all the problems Anderson and Dunlap created for everybody else. Both are seniors who rarely play outside of special teams. Both are also Academic All-Big Ten selections, but the choice to take the flag to midfield and plant it after already winning the game and dominating this rivalry wasn't exactly a dean's list decision.There is class in losing. There is class in winning, too. "These guys are looking to put a flag on our field and our guys were not going to let that happen," Day said. "This is our field and certainly we're embarrassed at the fact we lost the game, but there's some prideful guys on this team that weren't going to just let that happen."Logos and emblems are sacred across sports. Denigrating them has been an instant firestarter for years. Jackson State and Southern engaged in a similar fight three years ago when Jackson State players planted their flag on Southern's logo after a win. Michigan linebacker Devin Bush ran to midfield at Michigan State in 2018 and began stomping on the "S" while trying to tear out the turf with his cleats before a rivalry game. Baker Mayfield planted Oklahoma's giant flag at midfield of Ohio Stadium after a Sooners upset at Ohio State. Buckeyes players were already back in the locker room when Mayfield did it. They were on the field singing the alma mater when Michigan did it Saturday.A healthy level of dislike between teams doesn't have to be a bad thing. The professional levels have become too sanitized. Only a few genuine rivalries are left, and most are in college sports. But certain actions immediately lead to fights. Flag planting is one of them."I had said two years ago that (flag planting) was disrespectful," Brown said on his final night as North Carolina's coach. "I said all week you need to compete, but you need to do it with composure. So it's another learning experience. You can't fight, but you've got to win the game."Sometimes, it's up to the winners to act with composure, too.