The Big Ten Conference announced that their schools will participate in conference-only games for all sports this fall. The decision came Thursday, one day after the Ivy League cancelled all fall sports for the 2020 season.
This decision by the Big Ten is based on the uncertainties that are presented by the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, reaching new highs in the United States.
“We are facing uncertain and unprecedented times, and the health, safety and wellness of our student-athletes, coaches, game officials, and others associated with our sports programs and campuses remain our number one priority,” the conference released in a statement this Thursday.
Big Ten fall sports include football, men’s and women’s soccer, men’s and women’s cross country, field hockey, and women’s volleyball. The decision was made based on medical advice.
This now begs the question of what other conferences will do to take action in securing their athletes safety. The Big 12, Pac-12, ACC and SEC have a spotlight on themselves following a bold move by the Big Ten.
SEC commissioner Greg Sankey said that the SEC “will continue to meet regularly with our campus leaders in the coming weeks, guided by medical advisors, to make the important decisions necessary to determine the best path forward related to SEC fall sports.”
“We recognize the challenges ahead and know the well-being of our student-athletes, coaches, staff and fans must remain at the forefront of those decisions,” Sankey also stated.
Since fall college athletes return to team activities on June 1st, there have been COVID-19 cases popping up in a number of schools including Ohio State, Clemson, LSU and Texas. Ohio State suspended practices and team activities on Wednesday as a safety precaution.
The Big Ten’s statement included that the conference is “also prepared not to play in order to ensure the health, safety and wellness of our student-athletes should the circumstances so dictate.”
Georgia football’s non-conference games scheduled this season include Virginia, East Tennessee State, Louisiana Monroe and of course, Georgia Tech. Should the SEC move to conference-only games, the Dawgs’ schedule will only get tougher, potentially adding matchups such as LSU, Ole Miss, Texas A&M, Arkansas and Mississippi State.
