Urban blight

There were a lot of rivalry games played this week in college football. Many of the games resulted in dramatic conclusions in the final seconds of play. Overall, the rivalry play this week was the exact sort of thing people watch college football for.

There was one minor flaw in this perfect scene, however. During the Michigan-Ohio State game, a fight broke out following a kickoff return. It's not terribly unusual. Skirmishes like that happen from time to time during ordinary football games. Add the rivalry element and it's no wonder a scrap like this happens periodically.

But the Michigan-Ohio State fight was a bit more involved than most. In one of the more incredible, highly competitive, exciting games of the storied rivalry, the fight is about all anyone is talking about today. Part of the reason there is ongoing discussion about the fight is because Ohio State still has the Big 10 Championship game and possible BCS Championship game ahead of them. "Are you concerned," the sideline reporter asked Ohio State head coach Urban Meyer, "the Big 10 might take further action?" The players involved in the fight were ejected and there was some question as to whether or not the conference would allow them to play in the Big 10 title game. "It's disappointing," Meyer said. Not in part. That was his whole comment about the fight, focusing instead on enjoying the victory over Michigan.

Fair enough. It's a big rivalry win. You deserve to enjoy the win. But if Urban Meyer lets the Big 10 take action against his players, that will be really "disappointing." That is to say, he should be the one to take action. Getting into a fight is not a really big deal. It happens in sports from time to time. But how you handle yourself afterward is a big deal. Upon being ejected from the game, Ohio State guard Marcus Hall–who came off the bench to join the fracas–slammed his helmet to the turf, walked into the tunnel leading to the locker room, flipping the bird with each hand to the Michigan fans. Must have been a 2-for-1 Black Friday special.

Now you'll be able to find out what kind of coach and person Urban Meyer really is. He will either do nothing at all and therefore show himself to be interested only in winning or he will suspend Hall for the remainder of the season and prove he's the kind of coach that stands on values, delivering a clear message that Ohio State and its football program don't stand for coming off the bench to join a brawl, slamming helmets and flipping people off in utter classlessness.

So for all the talk coaches give about building men, developing character, representing community and the university, we'll see how strongly Meyer believes in that notion. Or is he simply obsessed with winning, building the Urban Meyer brand and constructing his own legacy. You'll know as soon as you find out what action he takes with Hall.