The author, a native Detroiter, formerly worked for The Detroit News and New York Daily News and as head writer for ESPN's Quite Frankly With Stephen A. Smith. His commentary first appeared on Facebook.
By Michael James
So, if you know anything about football, the fact that the Michigan Wolverines beat the No.2-ranked Ohio State Buckeyes in The Game, well, it should come as no surprise.
As I've written for most of this season, the Michigan Wolverines are - and have been - simply better than their unimaginative and conservative coaching staff has allowed them to be.
With all that said, following one of the most mistake-filled games I've ever witnessed in my long history of watching the Michigan-Ohio State rivalry, the postgame brawl following the 13-10 Michigan win was the ugliest happening I've ever seen between these two teams.
I get that there were high emotions on both sides following the game. Ohio State fell for the fourth straight time to Michigan for the first time since 1988-'91, as well as lost a spot in the Big Ten championship game against top-ranked Oregon.
The author, Michael James
Michigan, on the other hand, not only salvaged its season with the upset victory, but also likely cemented the return of first-year head coach Sherrone Moore, whose job performance this season hasn't instilled a lot of confidence in his future prospects.
Even with all those factors at play, there simply was no excuse for the long and sustained brawl which took place at midfield as Michigan appeared poised to celebrate on the Buckeyes' logo.
To be sure, no team wants to have an opponent plant their flag on the symbol of their program and university, but there is also no excuse for the head coaches of both of these teams being unable to get their players under control in a timely fashion.
For Moore, this isn't the first time his team has shown a lack of control and a lack of discipline. There was a smaller skirmish earlier in the season in the aftermath of a game against rival Michigan State. Additionally, a sense of lacking discipline has enveloped the Wolverines with Moore at the helm all season long, though that has shown itself mostly on the field.
As for Ohio State head coach Ryan Day - who could conceivably be out of a job following the season despite his overall success in Columbus - he stood shell-shocked and numb during the out-of-control fracas that saw players from both teams blinded by pepper spray used by security in an effort to gain control of the situation.
Sherrone Moore (File photo)
Day, who has an overall 66-10 record at Ohio State, is 1-4 against the Wolverines, including losing his last four meetings. Day's seat will undoubtedly heat up following his latest failure.
When all is said and done, the aftermath of The Game was a bad look for both teams, The Big Ten Conference and college football as a whole.
I suspect that The Fight following The Game will result in a new rule from the National Collegiate Athletic Association in the near future barring the planting of flags on opponents' logos.
My last thought on this game as a lifelong Michigan fan?
Way to go! Way to show heart and resolve against your No. 1 foe in a game that almost nobody in the country thought you could win.
One more thing...
#GoBlue
