Big miss for the Big Ten

The Big Ten made themselves look absolutely terrible on Monday.

As rumors swirled of the Big Ten looking to cancel their fall football season Monday morning, Kevin Warren, the first-year commissioner, made the conference look extremely foolish. The presidents of each university informally voted 12-2 that schools did not want to play (Nebraska and Iowa said yes) then multiple coaches caught wind of this vote including Michigan’s Jim Harbaugh, Ohio State’s Ryan Day and Penn State James Franklin. They all in some way urged the conference to at least make an attempt at their 2020 conference-only plan.

Nothing has been easy throughout this pandemic, but what the Big Ten did yesterday will surely be remembered for a long time. By not consulting with Athletic Directors, Coaches, or players on their impending decision made the conference look weak. School President’s have bigger issues than worrying about college football at the moment, that is the job for AD’s, who had zero say in the decision.

As the conference’s coaches, players and their families continue to fight for a 2020 fall football season, the conference leader crawled into a hole. Warren has yet to make a statement on the firestorm started yesterday. Nebraska head coach Scott Frost expressed his willingness to play, but they will look at other options if the Big Ten does actually cancel for the fall. Other schools have put out feelers, such as Ohio State, Michigan, and Penn State. Could the conference survive after losing three of their biggest names to another conference, albeit for just one season? Could you imagine Ohio State or Penn State making the College Football Playoff’s and representing the SEC or Big XII?

It remains to be seen what the Big Ten will do going forward, but they put themselves in a terrible position. It will be used against them in recruiting and it will not soon be forgotten. Monday, August 10th was a dark day for Big Ten football.