Seven years after Baker Mayfield famously planted the Oklahoma Sooners’ flag at midfield in Ohio Stadium following a win over Ohio State, the moment remains a defining memory in college football lore. Recently, the act has resurfaced in conversations, particularly after incidents involving flag planting during other college rivalry games.
Mayfield, now the quarterback for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, continues to stand by the act, describing it as emblematic of the fierce rivalries that define college football. While he apologized for the gesture shortly after it happened in 2017, he later expressed no regrets, emphasizing that such rivalries are part of the sport’s appeal. He has also dismissed criticisms and suggestions to ban flag-planting celebrations, arguing that losing teams should simply accept the result and move forward【24】【25】.
The flag-planting trend, in part attributed to Mayfield’s original act, has remained controversial, sparking debates about sportsmanship versus the passion inherent in competitive rivalries. The incident and
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