Reading about Michigan upsetting favoured Ohio State. The article implies that emotions ran so high that pepper spray was used to separate the two teams.
It took several minutes for stadium security and police to separate the two teams, with pepper spray being dispersed to get the situation under control, according to multiple media reports.
The television broadcast showed players wiping their eyes and coughing in the aftermath of the brawl.
Has this happened before in American sports?. I refereed ethnic soccer games at many levels for many years, but never saw anything like this…
I don’t know specifically about pepper spray, but a 2006 game between Miami and Floriday International definitely got out of hand, and the cops had to break things up.
The game of football evolved in the late 19th century from an activity that was very violent and at times resembled a gang rumble more than a sport. Pepper spray as we know it now had not been invented in those days but I wouldn’t be surprised if the local constabulary used any weapons they had available to deal with the mob and protect themselves. The brawl at the Michigan-Ohio game was reminiscent of those days.
At least, in major, high-level sports, like Division 1 college football (or a major pro sport): no, not the best of my knowledge, and at least not on the field, against the players themselves.
They deserve it. The Other School is always complaining about everything to the Big Ten office, even when they have instigated stuff. So, just desserts. Suck it wolvies
Wandering o/t a bit - forget pepper spray;Texas has seen nine acts of gun violence at school sporting events since 2018, according to the Center for Homeland Defense and Security. There were 14 shootings at high school football games nationwide last season.