Tag: big ten cancelled

Ohio State QB Justin Fields creates a petition to save the Big Ten season

The Heisman finalist is doing everything he can to try and play in the fall

 

Despite the Big Ten’s decision to cancel fall sports, the #WeWantToPlay movement has not stopped fighting for the conference to reconsider. Earlier this morning, Ohio State QB Justin Fields, the biggest star in the conference, tweeted out a petition to “request that the Big Ten Conference immediately reinstate the 2020 football season.”

The petition reads as follows:

“We, the football players of the Big Ten, together with the fans and supporters of college football, request that the Big Ten Conference immediately reinstate the 2020 football season. Allow Big Ten players/teams to make their own choice as to whether they wish to play or opt out this fall season. Allow Big Ten players/teams who choose to opt out of playing a fall season to do so without penalty or repercussion.”

“Why is this important?

We want to play. We believe that safety protocols have been established and can be maintained to mitigate concerns of exposure to Covid 19. We believe that we should have the right to make decisions about what is best for our health and our future. Don’t let our hard work and sacrifice be in vain. #LetUsPlay!”

The petition is addressed to the Big Ten Conference, Commissioner Kevin Warren, and the Presidents of the Big Ten schools who ultimately voted on the decision.

As of 11:30 AM central, the petition has over 23,000 signatures in just over one hour of being up. The Heisman finalist and Big Ten Player of the Year has been extremely vocal about wanting a season reinstated in the fall so that he can compete in likely his final college season before heading to the NFL.

Anybody who feels inclined can sign the petition here to be a part of the #WeWantToPlay movement.

Nebraska has to stay in the Big Ten conference for the sake of Wisconsin running backs

Badger RB’s have feasted on Nebraska since they joined the conference

[lawrence-newsletter]With news of the Big Ten cancelling the 2020 fall football season came drama in Lincoln, Nebraska. 

Nebraska Head Coach Scott Frost immediately made it known that the Huskers were committed to playing “no matter what,” while Big Ten Commissioner Kevin Warren quickly countered with the fact that Nebraska would be out of the conference if they tried playing this fall.

When football does return to Big Ten campuses, there is one group in particular that should be hoping and wishing for the Huskers to stay committed to the Big Ten, as their President and Chancellor recently stated they are.

Wisconsin has feasted on Nebraska since the Cornhuskers joined the Big Ten in 2011, and they have done so on the ground. Take Jonathan Taylor’s historic career as an example. The two-time Doak Walker Award winner played Nebraska three times in three seasons, and the Badgers went 3-0. During those three games, Taylor eclipsed 200 yards each time, and accumulated a total of 674 rushing yards on just 74 carries to go along with seven touchdowns (9.1 YPC).

The Badgers have played the Huskers nine times since Nebraska became the Big Ten’s 12th member, and have won nine of ten, including seven straight since 2012.

Arguably the most historic individual performance in Wisconsin football history also came against the Huskers when RB Melvin Gordon exploded for 408 yards on the ground at Camp Randall in 2014.

When Nebraska found early success in the Big Ten, ultimately making the 2012 championship game in just their second season, Wisconsin RB’s had a historic night in Indianapolis. The Badgers ended up besting the Huskers 70-31, and had three ball carriers go for over 100 yards in James White, Montee Ball, and Melvin Gordon. Wisconsin ran for 539 total yards and ran Nebraska out of the home of the Colts.

If history tell us anything, it is that Wisconsin RB’s should be hoping any drama between Nebraska and the conference comes to a close so they can continue to feast against the Big Ten’s newest member.

 

The complete Big Ten statement on postponing the fall sports season

Earlier this afternoon, the Big Ten announced that the Conference will be delaying the start of all fall sports because of the current Covid-19 pandemic. The Big Ten has been followed by the PAC-12 Conference in its decision to postpone the fall sports season.

Here is the complete statement released by the Big Ten:

Earlier this afternoon, the Big Ten announced that the Conference will be delaying the start of all fall sports because of the current Covid-19 pandemic. The Big Ten has been followed by the PAC-12 Conference in its decision to postpone the fall sports season.

Here is the complete statement released by the Big Ten:

ROSEMONT, Ill. – The Big Ten Conference announced the postponement of the 2020-21 fall sports season, including all regular-season contests and Big Ten Championships and Tournaments, due to ongoing health and safety concerns related to the COVID-19 pandemic.

In making its decision, which was based on multiple factors, the Big Ten Conference relied on the medical advice and counsel of the Big Ten Task Force for Emerging Infectious Diseases and the Big Ten Sports Medicine Committee.

“Our primary responsibility is to make the best possible decisions in the interest of our students, faculty and staff,” said Morton Schapiro, Chair of the Big Ten Council of Presidents/Chancellors and Northwestern University President.

“The mental and physical health and welfare of our student-athletes has been at the center of every decision we have made regarding the ability to proceed forward,” said Big Ten Commissioner Kevin Warren. “As time progressed and after hours of discussion with our Big Ten Task Force for Emerging Infectious Diseases and the Big Ten Sports Medicine Committee, it became abundantly clear that there was too much uncertainty regarding potential medical risks to allow our student-athletes to compete this fall.

“We know how significant the student-athlete experience can be in shaping the future of the talented young women and men who compete in the Big Ten Conference. Although that knowledge made this a painstaking decision, it did not make it difficult. While I know our decision today will be disappointing in many ways for our thousands of student-athletes and their families, I am heartened and inspired by their resilience, their insightful and discerning thoughts, and their participation through our conversations to this point. Everyone associated with the Big Ten Conference and its member institutions is committed to getting everyone back to competition as soon as it is safe to do so.”

The fall sports included in this announcement are men’s and women’s cross country, field hockey, football, men’s and women’s soccer, and women’s volleyball. The Big Ten Conference will continue to evaluate a number of options regarding these sports, including the possibility of competition in the spring. Decisions regarding winter and spring sports will also continue to be evaluated.

The Big Ten Conference is proud of its 14 world-class research institutions and has leveraged their resources and expertise to address this pandemic over the past five months. The Big Ten Task Force for Emerging Infectious Diseases and the Big Ten Sports Medicine Committee have engaged in extensive research and sharing of materials and conversations with federal, state and local government agencies, and professional and international sports organizations in order to track and better understand the daily updates surrounding this pandemic. Their advice and counsel have been invaluable as they have worked tirelessly over the past several months in their efforts to create and maintain a safe environment for athletics.

The Big Ten Conference will continue to work with medical experts and governmental authorities to gather additional information, evaluate emerging data and technologies, and monitor developments regarding the pandemic to make the best decisions possible for the health, safety and wellness of our student-athletes.

BadgersWire will be reporting any updates as the situation evolves with the possible postponement of other Power Five conferences. 

Wisconsin CB Faion Hicks on why playing in the spring feels like an impossibility

There is very little chance that players could put themselves through a spring season

I want to be one hundred percent honest in saying that the issue brought up by Wisconsin CB Faion Hicks surrounding playing in the spring is one I had not thought of until a good friend of mine pointed it out a few months back. That issue revolves around the question of if players can put their bodies through two calendar years at the highest levels of football?

Having been someone who grew up as a basketball player, and never played the game of football, the physical toll of the game is something I can only hear second hand. Luckily, Alec Simpson, one of my best childhood friends and former D1 football LB at the University of Nevada, pointed out the issue that Hicks brought up on his Twitter shortly after the Big Ten news was announced. What Alec told me a few months back was that at his position, LB, there was absolutely no chance he could safely play two seasons in a calendar year at the division one level. His body could not take that kind of toll. That is the exact takeaway that Hicks had just minutes ago after the news was announced.

The Big Ten did state that they would attempt to push football to the spring, but there does not feel like much a point in even starting to look at that option. Forget the possibility that the virus is still raging, forget the issues with scheduling, and forget players sitting out because of the NFL. Can most players even go through two seasons in that time frame? The answer from my friend Alec and from Hicks was a resounding no.

Big Ten postpones football and fall sports, 2020 CFB looking unlikely

The Big Ten announced its decision to cancel fall sports according to their official website

Georgia’s 2020 college football season may end before it even begins. With the possible upcoming season cancellation or postponement (into spring of 2021).

The Big Ten announced its decision to cancel fall sports according to their official website. The Big Ten is the first Power Five conference to do so.

The Big Ten Conference announced the postponement of the 2020-21 fall sports season, including all regular-season contests and Big Ten Championships and Tournaments, due to ongoing health and safety concerns related to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Vast amounts of students are returning to campus and COVID cases remain high in the United States. College football would be excessively difficult and expensive to put in a bubble, so the risk for athletes and coaches would be too high for the Big Ten to justify a season.

The news came out yesterday, but it wasn’t official. Numerous notable players and coaches are protesting the decision.

It’s a depressing day for college football fans across the nation. Fans should anticipate other Power Five conferences joining in. The Pac-12 should be the next domino to fall.

The SEC is expected to be most resistant to cancelling or postponing the season. Without the Big Ten, it is tough to imagine that there will be a football season this year.

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Apr 13, 2019; Columbus, OH, USA; Ohio State Buckeyes quarterback Justin Fields and coach Corey Dennis during the first half of the Spring Game at Ohio Stadium. Credit: Joe Maiorana-USA TODAY Sports

Report: Big Ten football is cancelled in the fall, will attempt to play in spring

The Big Ten will be cancelling the fall football season

[lawrence-newsletter]After yesterday’s roller coaster ride of emotions for players, fans, media members, and anybody associated with college football in the Big Ten, the news that league presidents have voted against a fall season has now been confirmed by multiple sources.

The early reports are that the Big Ten will attempt to play a season in the spring, and that at least one team has already been notified that there will be no fall season. National Yahoo Sports reporter Pete Thamel broke the news first via Twitter, along with other journalists.

We will have more on this developing story throughout the day at BadgersWire including player reactions, coaches reactions, and more from around the conference.

Multiple Big Ten coaches voice their support for playing football this fall

Multiple coaches are coming out in support of their players who want to play a season this fall

As we hear conflicting reports about whether or not the fall football season is officially cancelled, with the latest news being that Big Ten presidents will meet tonight to make a final decision, coaches from around the conference are showing their support for players who want to find a way to play.

Ohio State Heach Coach Ryan Day tweeted out his own thoughts, as well as retweeted his star QB Justin Fields’ #WeWantToPlay call to action.

Nebraska Head Coach Scott Frost made his statement clear in a press conference today. He also invited players to join him during the virtual presser in order to express their feelings on playing football this fall.

Penn State Head Coach James Franklin believes that he must fight alongside his players for their season and their future.

There has been no official cancellation word from the conference, although the Detroit Free Press has reported that the season is cancelled for this fall.