Ever since the Big Ten made the decision to postpone the fall football season for 2020, the reaction has been swift, pointed, and overwhelming. Players have reacted with confusion and disappointment. In addition to that, the parents of Ohio State and Iowa have both expressed concern, confusion, and outrage and how it was all handled by commissioner Kevin Warren and the conference.
And it doesn’t appear it’s going to stop there. According to the Columbus Dispatch (subscription may be required), the FPAOS, an OSU football parent organization, has taken it a step further and sent a letter to the Big Ten offices Saturday. In it, the parents asked the league to reconsider fall football and directed some very pointed questions, much like what Iowa parents did earlier in the week.
The Ohio State football parents group — FPAOS — will send a letter to the Big Ten today asking the conference to reconsider its decision not to play this fall and asking several pointed questions, The Dispatch was told. https://t.co/sXsZITsFx5
— Bill Rabinowitz (@brdispatch) August 15, 2020
“We believe the August 11th decision was made in haste,” the Football Parents Association of Ohio State (FPAOS) said in the letter emailed to the Big Ten according to the Dispatch. “As we have continued to learn nationally about COVID-19, our understanding and protocols in dealing with this virus have also continued to evolve. In the best interests of our players, we strongly believe that the Big Ten should re-evaluate its decision. Additional time and consideration provided by deferring the decision would allow for more data to be analyzed and evaluated.”
The letter also expressed the inherent risk that comes with playing football, and the freedom players and parents should have in deciding their future.
“Football is a game of risk,” the letter continued. “Our sons work extremely hard for the opportunity to play and fully understand the risks involved when they step on the field. Their personal decisions should be acknowledged and honored to give them the opportunity to compete as athletes in the game they love.”
Not only does the letter request that the ten-game schedule released by the Big Ten just six days prior to the decision to postpone be reinstated, but it also requests several things to be addressed including the following:
- Full transparency to the coaches players and parents about the data used by the Big Ten to make its decision.
- A meeting with representatives that include players, parents and coaches and that Big Ten commissioner Kevin Warren have a Zoom call with senior players and coaches.
- The Big Ten allow teams that are prepared to play be allowed to do so. Teams that aren’t prepared may forfeit or opt out until next season.
- Provide a detailed action play, including standard protocols and safety practices for all teams.
The letter requests for a response from the league no later than Wednesday.
It’s just another move by parents of Big Ten football players that are outraged and concerned about the lack of communication and plan by the league in going from the release of a schedule to the postponement of it just a few days later. So far, both Iowa and Ohio State football parents have sent letters in response to what they believe was a short-sighted and poorly planned decision-making process.
As always, we’ll be on top of any response from the Big Ten that’s made public.
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