Ohio governor bans khakis, the letter M before Ohio State vs. Michigan game

Ohio State grad and Ohio state governor John Kasich continued his war on Michigan -- the school but perhaps also the state -- by banning khakis and the letter M in the state of Ohio.

In a proclamation from the governor’s office, the Republican presidential candidate declared Saturday the third annual “Scarlet Letter Saturday,” urging Ohioans to forsake khakis and the 13th letter of the alphabet.

The letter M has previously seen little love from Kasich during the last two Ohio State–Michigan matchups. This year, khakis join the list of contraband in a nod to Michigan coach Jim Harbaugh, who has an entire in-game camera devoted to his signature trousers. This year’s proclamation describes the pants as recalling “guys standing around, being very casual and witty on a front porch in a 1991 Dockers commercial” and a “dull, earthly garment.”

SB Nation has reached out to the Kasich camp for comment.

The proclamation reads in full (with all M’s, including lieutenant governor Mary Taylor’s, crossed off):

STATE OF OHIO

Executive Department

OFFICE OF THE GOVERNOR

Columbus

RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, in 2013 the State of Ohio first proclaimed Scarlet Letter Saturday, urging Ohioans to avoid using the 13th letter of the alphabet on the day of The Game; and

WHEREAS, over the years the rivalry has been made richer by the unique styles of the great Ohio-born coaches who have roamed the sidelines in The Game, including Jim Tressel’s trademark sweater vest, Bo Schembechler’s timeless hat, and Woody Hayes’s signature glasses; and

WHEREAS, another Ohio-born coach makes his debut this year, bringing his own pleated sense of style to the sidelines, reportedly purchased at Wal-Mart for $8 a pair; and

WHEREAS, his style recalls guys standing around, being very casual and witty on a front porch in a 1991 Dockers commercial, which offended Jerry Seinfeld in the episode The Phone Message; and

WHEREAS, while the dull, earthly garment may be workplace appropriate for Jake from State Farm, coaches sporting them in a “shirts vs. skins” pickup game should stick to the “shirts” team.

NOW, THEREFORE, We, John R. Kasich and Mary Taylor, Governor and Lieutenant Governor of the State of Ohio, do hereby recognize Saturday, November 28th, 2015 as

SCARLET LETTER SATURDAY

throughout Ohio and encourage all Ohioans to avoid using the letter M on this day, and to avoid wearing pleated khakis on this day and all days.

On this 27th day of November 2015;

John R. Kasich

Governor

Mary Taylor

Lieutenant Governor