Just when you think the moves Justin Fields, football parents, and other administrators’ actions are well-intentioned but unlikely to make any real impacts on the Big Ten’s decision to postpone the 2020 football season, we get some news about well-known attorney Tom Mars entering the fray.
For those that need a reminder, Mars has represented (successfully I might add) many high-profile college football players in their attempts to obtain a waiver exception for immediate eligibility for undergrads. He was the attorney that represented Justin Fields in gaining immediate eligibility at Ohio State.
The Columbus Dispatch (subscription may be required) reached out to Mars and got some insight on where the huge pushback from Big Ten players, parents, and coaches might be headed. Be ready to be surprised, because he believes it could all result in a reversal of action by the Big Ten.
Tom Mars, the attorney who handled @justnfields' transfer waiver request last year, believes the QB's petition will have an impact. Mars is pushing a liability-waiver proposal and had a lot more to say here: https://t.co/9d9icAcUtm
— Bill Rabinowitz (@brdispatch) August 17, 2020
Mars believes that having Fields as the face of this whole push means more than anyone is giving it credit for.
“I think it’s going to matter a lot,” Mars told The Dispatch. “I think it already matters. I don’t think this dilemma is going to be solved in a court of law. I think it’s going to be solved in the court of public opinion. I can’t think of any individual in college football — player, coach or otherwise — who has more credibility and respect than Justin Fields.”
Also of significant note — and a bit of a revelation — at the request of several parents of Big Ten players, Mars has written a two-page proposal entitled “Action Plan to Mitigate Concerns and Legal Risks of Playing Fall 2020 Football.”
Yes, you read that right.
And here’s the deal. Mars believes the Big Ten has to act or face some issues in the court of public opinion. With the groundswell of support for getting on board with trying to play games in the fall, there are some real problems that could arise for the league.
There are concerns about counterproductive moves to ban liability waivers, as well as what can only be viewed as a premature decision by the Big Ten to postpone the season and the lack of detail and transparency in making such an impactful decision.
“The failure of transparency has called into question the legitimacy of their decision,” Mars said, “which reminds me of that expression I heard and was taught long ago: Transparency is the foundation of legitimacy. Without it, you can expect people to question your motives and question whether you made a good decision.”
Mars said that there has also been some talk about taking legal action, but it isn’t the path he would prefer to go.