It’s the next question in a flurry of questions that probably have no good answer during this crazy coronavirus pandemic. Once the Big Ten postponed the fall football season for 2020, eyes turned towards the potential for the spring. But there are significant hurdles like the NFL draft, physical demands of two seasons so close together, and not the least of all, the COVID-19 pandemic’s grip on life at that point.
Former Ohio State head coach Urban Meyer appeared on BTN last week and was asked about the potential of a spring season. He has been very vocal all along about the challenges of pulling it off, and continued to beat that drum.
“No chance,” Meyer told BTN. “You can’t ask a player to play two seasons in a calendar year. When I first heard that, I said that. I don’t see that happening. The body, in my very strong opinion, is not made to play two seasons within one calendar year. That’s 2,000 repetitive reps, and football’s a physical, tough sport. So I don’t — really don’t — see that happening.”
Urban Meyer on potential of spring football: "No chance. You can't ask student-athletes to play two seasons in one calendar year."
— Ari Wasserman (@AriWasserman) August 11, 2020
But it isn’t just about the physical demands. Theoretically, the seasons could be spread out more or shortened on both ends with scheduling. However — according to Meyer — there’s more at stake for programs like Ohio State.
“We recruited players at Ohio State that have a chance to earn a living and play the game, and be rewarded for their great efforts,” Meyer continued. “And you’re going to ask them to play spring football, by the way, and then go miss OTAs and not prepare for a dream to go play in professional football? That’s not fair.”
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Meyer has a point, and we should all listen because he’s been on the inside at the highest of levels with college football. He knows the kids, knows what makes them tick, and understands what it takes to pull something like this off.
That being said — at this point, any football would be good because it’s beginning to look like even playing intramural backgammon during the COVID-19 pandemic is going to be an issue at Big Ten schools. And don’t take that as complaining, it’s just the reality of the conservative nature of where things are with the leadership of the conference.
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