Amid flag planting controversy, Shannon Sharpe remarks on rivalry week tradition: "I'm probably the worst guy"

Numerous incidents of flag planting occurred in the final week of the 2024 college football season. This was only natural, as most of those games were rivalry matchups to close out the regular season.

Speaking about the incidents, First Take's Shannon Sharpe said:

"I'm probably the worst guy because I'm a very sore loser, but I'm a worse winner, and I want you to know. I'm coming, and I'm trying to be as openly and blatantly disrespectful as I possibly can."

Furthermore, Sharpe said that it wasn't limited to his rivals but to any opponents, especially if they were talking a great deal before the game.

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Several fights occurred in rivalry week because of flag planting

Tensions certainly rose in Week 14 of the college football season as it closed out with the highly anticipated rivalry week slate of games. Numerous players celebrated wins by planting flags in opposing stadiums, leading to a couple of scuffles.

There was a heated exchange in the Michigan versus Ohio State matchup, and eventually, security had to break up what looked like a potential brawl in Columbus.

Then, there was a case of an NC State flag nearly thrown into the stands in its victory against UNC at Chapel Hill. Last but not least, a fight occurred in the Florida Gators versus Florida State Seminoles game after George Gumbs Jr. had impaled a Gators flag in the Doak Campbell Stadium.

These flag planting incidents marred a week of impressive highlights and raised debates about flag planting being allowed in collegiate football. Brawls, melees and fights bring the game to disrepute, so the NCAA must make a decision moving forward.

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Steve Sarkisian didn't allow Texas players to plant flags in the Lonestar Showdown

One rivalry game that didn't have flag planting in Week 14 was the Lonestar Showdown between the Texas Longhorns and Texas A&M Aggies. That's because Longhorns coach Steve Sarkisian expressly banned the celebration, and his players were strictly warned to avoid such an activity.

Sarkisian's team beat the Aggies, and the Longhorns coach spotted some of his players plotting to plant a flag after the win. He promptly went over to the congregation and dispersed them before they carried out the plot. Sarkisian said,

"I just watched the Ohio State versus Michigan game end in a full-fledged brawl today, and I just did not think it was right."

It's important to note that the Longhorns planted flags against the Michigan Wolverines after a victory earlier this season. However, Sarkisian wasn't having any of that in the rivalry week's game against the Aggies.