Respecting opponents is a must

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The old saying of “what goes around comes around” happened Saturday night in East Lansing, Mich.

Flashback to a year ago when Michigan State’s football team beat Notre Dame 44-41 in overtime. Right after the game, some Michigan State players took their school flag and planted it on the 35-yard line at Notre Dame Stadium.

Before last Saturday night’s game between the two at Spartan Stadium in East Lansing, Mich., MSU coach John L. Smith was asked about his players’ flag-planting celebration.

You thought he might apologize on behalf of his players and say they got caught up in the emotion. And maybe he would say it was discussed later and wouldn’t happen again.

But that’s not what John L. Smith told the announcers.

To paraphrase, he said the thing that upset him the most was that his players planted the flag at the 35-yard line instead of the 50. He joked that they couldn’t even get that right.

The announcers giggled and called John L. Smith “quite a character.”

Apparently, the Spartans coach was never involved in a Sports Done Right initiative, which addresses sportsmanship.

Sticking your school flag in the middle of an opponents’ field after an emotional win is bush league.

That’s called rubbing it in.

It’s like leaving your starters in the game during a blowout.

I will admit that I have been a Notre Dame football fan for as long as I can remember.

But if the Irish had planted their flag in the middle of Spartan Stadium, I would have considered that bush league, too.

You win with class and lose with class.

So where does the phrase “what goes around, comes around” enter the equation?

This past Saturday night, Michigan State was putting a serious hurting on Notre Dame and its sorry excuse for a defense.

The Spartans had leads of 17-0 and 31-14.

A few fourth-quarter first downs or just a matter of protecting the football would have sewn up the win for Michigan State.

But, alas, a funny thing happened to John L. and his happy flag-planters.

They turned the ball over. They didn’t move the ball.

They choked. Big time.

Notre Dame rallied to win 40-37.

Justice was served.

Let this be a lesson to not only John L. Smith, but to all coaches at every level.

You and your team are not only judged on your performance but on your behavior, on and off the playing surface.

Former University of Maine hockey coach Shawn Walsh used to insist that his Black Bears stand at attention on the blue line for a couple of seconds after the completion of the national anthem.

Honoring the flag and the anthem meant something to me.

Most teams begin their final pre-faceoff skate seconds before the anthem is finished.

It has always impressed me when a football player helps an opponent up after a play is over.

Or when a hitter retrieves the opposing catcher’s mask after he chases a foul ball.

Every once in a while, you’ll see a hockey player tap the opposing goalie’s pads with his stick after the goalie had made a great save to rob him.

Sportsmanship does not go unnoticed.

It is a reflection of your coach and team.

It is important to make it a priority.

Larry Mahoney can be reached at 990-8231, 1-800-310-8600 or by email at lmahoney@bangordailynews.net.