MAC commissioner calls for NCAA to crack down on ‘behavioral trainwreck’ in college sports after flag-planting brawls

CNN — The Mid-American Conference commissioner wants the NCAA to crack down on what he calls “abysmal behavior” at college sports events, which he said has shown a “lack of respect for norms and traditions.” The letter, sent on Thursday from Jon A. Steinbrecher to NCAA president Charlie Baker and shared with CNN, argued that sportsmanship and ethical conduct are “urgent issues” that need to be addressed. “If athletics are to be sustained within universities of higher education, continue to claim that sport plays a significant role in amplifying the value of the educational experience as well as provide a positive force to rally disparate constituent groups for the advancement of an institution, then a premium must be placed on the values of ethical conduct and integrity.” The Florida Gators and Florida State Seminoles grapple after last weekend's game. “Do we really need to contemplate the creation of a rule expressly prohibiting flag planting on an opposing team’s field, as opposed to simply knowing that is wrong?” Steinbrecher wrote. “From my seat, this is not about establishing new rules but in clarifying and redefining individual and collective expectations for the conduct of intercollegiate athletics competition and holding ourselves accountable.” Rivalry games between Florida and Florida State and North Carolina State and the University of North Carolina also saw flag planting and fracases between players.