Everybody has seen it. The scene of chaos that broke out in the minutes after the University of Michigan shockingly defeated Ohio State in “The Game.” While the 60 minutes played on the field should have been the focus of the ensuing media coverage, it was the all-out brawl that occurred after, which garnered headlines.

All of this would have been avoided if Michigan hadn’t planted its flag on Ohio State’s infamous “O.” This has been the sentiment shared by many from angry X posters to the most famous football pundits. While true, this point of view ignores the fact that an entire game preceded the controversial act. An entire game that Ohio State could have and should have won. Had Ohio State performed on the field, they wouldn’t be in a situation where they were getting a flag planted on their turf. Nevertheless, they did. Their head coach, Ryan Day, stood stagnant on the sideline, even being seen asking players what was happening as they sprinted by to join the melee.

By the end of it, players, coaches and members of the press had been pepper sprayed; the block M flag had been ripped off its pole; police formed a human wall down the 50-yard line. A telling metaphor for a rivalry so historically divided. The media and the legions of football-obsessed fans jumped on the story, quick to share their opinions on the storied tradition.

So here’s mine.

Flag planting is a part of the game. If teams don’t want a flag planted on their field, they have 60 minutes to put the work in to avoid it. After the game, they have no right to protest the outcomes of their actions and their shortcomings. This is where the actions of the coaching staff come into play as well. It is the responsibility of coaches to keep their team in check, gather the players and herd everyone into the locker room. There should never be a situation where two teams get violent after the game, as the losing coach should take the initiative to go to the locker room and live to fight (or play) another day.

Another telling comparison can be drawn between the expectations of professional sports teams and their collegiate counterparts. When NBA teams win the championship, it is expected that they will celebrate whether they are on their home court or playing away. They will douse the locker room in champagne regardless of what team name is painted on the wall. The same goes for the NHL. It is an expectation that players will parade the Stanley Cup around the ice no matter whose ice they’re on. Why the expectation changes when it comes to college athletics alludes to me, but if we are penalizing some athletes for celebrating on visitors’ turf, the least we can do is be consistent.

While this trend is unlikely to stop, some are going to drastic measures in an attempt to stop the controversial celebration. Ohio state rep. Josh Williams proposed a bill in the aftermath of “The Game” that would make planting a flag at Ohio Stadium a felony. The O.H.I.O. The Sportsmanship Act reads, “No person shall plant a flagpole with a flag attached to it in the center of the football field at Ohio Stadium of the Ohio State University on the day of a college football competition, whether before, during, or after the competition. Whoever violates this section is guilty of a felony of the fifth degree.”

This is ridiculous.

While it is a lawmaker’s job to respond to violence and issues plaguing their community, a football game should not be in their jurisdiction. Yes, this fight should have never happened, but it is up to the teams, conference and NCAA to discipline those involved, not emboldened government officials–withholding the instances where formal charges are being pressed.

In the future, I don’t expect to see a complete lack of flag planting, but I do expect the NCAA to crack down on the responses shown by coaches and players. This craze has yet again walked the line between taunting and celebrating. My fellow sports enthusiasts and I will be waiting on the edge of our chairs, couches and stadium bleachers to see what happens next.