We keep hearing that the Big Ten is forging ahead with plans to try and stage a conference-only football season this spring. It all started when the league shocked the college football world by being the first Power Five conference to shelve the fall season amid the coronavirus pandemic.
But that was before the outrage and discontent from parents, players, administrators, and big-money boosters hit the proverbial fan. It’s likely too late, and would be a severe hit to egos to pull back and try for a fall season now, but apparently a winter season is beginning to take shape.
Ohio State head coach Ryan Day first threw out the idea of starting the season in January during a Zoom call with reporters just a day after the Big Ten’s decision.
“I think that starting the first week in January would be the best way to go,” Day said. “That way there is some separation between that season and the next season.”
It was an interesting footnote, but one that was cavalierly disregarded by the main-stream media.
But not now.
According to a report from the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel and others, there is a plan in the works to try and get the season started as soon as possible — and yes — potentially in January. The plan would reportedly involve domed stadiums in the Big Ten’s footprint including ones in Detroit (Ford Field), Minneapolis (U.S. Bank Stadium), and Indianapolis (Lucas Oil Stadium). The potential also exists to play games in St. Louis and Syracuse with other creative ideas on the table.
Ohio State AD Gene Smith: "We are actively planning for the winter and spring seasons for all sports, including the return of football."
Been hearing the term "winter season" a lot today re: Big Ten season. Coaches like Ryan Day and James Franklin are fans of starting early.
— Nicole Auerbach 😷 (@NicoleAuerbach) August 19, 2020
The thought is, by starting in January and ending with a Big Ten Championship Game in the first week of March, it would give players ample opportunity to rest up before a normalized 2021 season next fall. It would also end things before the 2021 NFL Draft, giving some of the bigger name players the opportunity to be ready for the combine and all the hoopla surrounding that spectacle.
“I think that starting the first week in January would be the best way to go,” Day said. “That way there is some separation between that season and the next season.”
There are, of course, hurdles to clear. Creative scheduling will need to occur with limited sites available because of the schizophrenic weather that can happen in this part of the country during the deep valley of winter. The number of games needs to be worked out. And more than anything, there has to be comfortability to play during flu season in the midst of a global pandemic.
So, we’ll all watch and wait to see what the Big Ten does next, and we may not have to wait that long actually. According to Penn State athletic director Sandy Barbour, we could be getting a schedule out as early as a few days to a week.
Even Wisconsin athletic director Barry Alvarez has hinted towards something coming out very soon. While appearing on the Dan Dakich show this past week, he stopped short of busting open some big news.
“We’ve been working on this Dan,” Alvarez said, slyly. “I can’t leak it to you. I’d love to give it to you but I can’t leak it.”
We’re all waiting.
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