Tag: Kevin Warren

WATCH: Big Ten commissioner Kevin Warren has no regrets about 2020 season

After a wild 2020, Big Ten commissioner Kevin Warren says he has no regrets:

Big Ten commissioner Kevin Warren was thrown into the fire during just his second season in charge of the conference as the nation dealt with the COVID-19 pandemic. It was a wild year in the Big Ten as the football season was canceled for good and then ultimately rescheduled just a few weeks later.

Despite the rocky year, the Big Ten commissioner opened Thursday’s Big Ten media day by telling the press that he wouldn’t have changed a thing.

“I don’t have any regrets,” Warren told the media Thursday. “Quite naturally, we all look back on our lives and other things that we wish we would have maybe done a little bit differently. But if I had the chance to do it all over last year, I would make the same decisions that we made. Maybe the communication wasn’t as clean or as perfect as it could have been at times, and I think you’ve seen improvement with that.

“When you add it all up, I think the biggest thing that I learned was the importance of being grateful, and also having a sense of grace, not only with ourselves but with others.”

https://youtu.be/i6XH_29zfFs

Kevin Warren sticks to his guns at Big Ten media days, ‘I don’t have any regrets’

Despite all the criticism last season, Big Ten commissioner Kevin Warren says that he “has no regrets.”

Commissioner Kevin Warren kicked off all the festivities of Big Ten media days on Thursday with a very long-winded introduction before he got to the questions that media members had in their quivers, ready to take aim with. There haven’t been too many formats in which the media have been able to ask some tough questions, and they were ready.

Many topics were touched upon, but the one everyone wanted to know had to do with reflection upon how things were handled with the poor communication, mishandling of the season, and much more last year. Finally, the very last question Warren was met with asked if he had any regrets about how the pandemic and the 2020 season were handled last year.

He almost dodged the bullet.

And if you thought there was going to be some introspective with ownership and lessons learned, well — you would be wrong. It appears as though Warren believes that he and the Big Ten offices handled everything masterfully according to his response.

“I don’t have any regrets,” Warren told the media Thursday. “Quite naturally, we all look back on our lives and other things that we wish we would have maybe done a little bit differently. But if I had the chance to do it all over last year, I would make the same decisions that we made. Maybe the communication wasn’t as clean or as perfect as it could have been at times, and I think you’ve seen improvement with that.

“When you add it all up, I think the biggest thing that I learned was the importance of being grateful, and also having a sense of grace, not only with ourselves but with others.”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i6XH_29zfFs

OK. Well. It sure sounds like there were some regrets. He toed right up to the line, even admitting communication wasn’t good (sort of), but then said that he’d make the same decisions if presented with the same set of circumstances. It doesn’t really make sense, and we’re just left to believe that the guy pulling the strings really feels like all of what we saw went about as well as it could?

Here, let me help you out Warren. Your response probably should have gone something more like this:

“Well, you know, it was a trying time, and we were all doing the best we could — myself included. It’s sometimes during the most trying times when mistakes are made that we have to learn from them. I truly acted with the best intentions, but there’s no doubt some things could have been done differently. All we can do — all I can do — is learn from those, move forward, and try to continue to represent the Big Ten and make it the premier conference in America.”

There, that wasn’t so hard was it? I guess we can all hope that what was being said from behind the podium was just a guy with extreme confidence and that hopefully Warren has learned some lessons and is working to put them into action.

The best leaders use those around them to help make decisions, then stick by them through it all. However, afterward, the best of the best are able to learn from mistakes, admit when they were wrong, and make future plans to be better.

There’s no way the Big Ten’s handling of things last season will be studied in PR classes at the same institutions Warren represents. Just the opposite actually.

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Ohio State parents organization tells Big Ten commissioner Kevin Warren to ‘do better’

An Ohio State football parents organization responded to Big Ten commissioner Kevin Warren after a document dump, telling him ‘do better.’

When the Big Ten announced the decision to cancel/postpone the 2020 football season amid the COVID-19 pandemic, criticism was fast and harsh from seemingly all corners of the Big Ten. A lot of that was directed squarely on the shoulders of conference commissioner Kevin Warren, and some would say rightfully so.

From players to school officials, to lawyers, and fans, many were outspoken about the lack of transparency, inclusion, and sensibility coming from the offices in Chicago.

And while the Big Ten eventually reversed course (sort of) and decided to play a delayed and abbreviated schedule, there’s still the past history to get past. It was somewhat forgotten with Ohio State’s run to the national championship game, but now, that scab is being picked at again.

That’s because a document dump that came as a result of a public records request from local media has pulled the curtain back on some of the back and forth between Ohio State and the Big Ten offices, including Kevin Warren.

In it, a text message from OSU president Kristina Johnson to athletic director Gene Smith expressed concern for Warren’s stance on a letter put forth by the FPAOS (The Football Parents Association of Ohio State) that was critical of the Big Ten’s decision.

“Kevin (Warren) is alleging that the letter is being manufactured,” Ohio State president Kristina M. Johnson said in text messages to athletic director Gene Smith on Aug. 15. “The upcoming letter from OSU parents – claims it is be manufactured – I am not happy pretty serious charge IMHO – but want to keep the eye on the prize.”

Smith seemed a bit taken aback by the charge and voiced his displeasure as well.

“Wow, how would he know…” Smith responded. “Our parents have a formal organization with a president, vice president etc… They are an organized group I am sure ours it is genuine… agree… eye on the prize.”

The reaction to this revelation has not been kind as you can imagine. The FPAOS has responded on Twitter and has expressed its “lack of confidence in the Big Ten Conference leadership.”

You can read the entire statement released by the parent organization below, but perhaps the most stinging comment comes at the end where Warren is simply told to “do better.”

Welp. Just when you thought the Big Ten drama from last season was over, here we go again.

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Mississippi State tight end Powers Warren, son of Big Ten Commissioner, transfers to Michigan State football

Son of Big Ten Commissioner Kevin Warren, Powers Warren, announced on Sunday that he is joining the Spartans football team.

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A few weeks ago, Michigan State football lost tight end Tommy Guajardo to the NCAA transfer portal. Over the weekend, they found a new tight end to replace him, and he is a player who is well connected in the Big Ten. On Sunday, it was announced that Powers Warren, son of Big Ten Commissioner Kevin Warren, would be joining the Spartans.

Warren will join the team as a preferred walk-on.

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Powers Warren was a 6’3, 245-pound 2-star recruit out of Minnetonka, Minnesota who played in six total games over his time at Mississippi State. He did not play last year under new Bulldogs coach Mike Leach.

Aside from Guajardo, Warren will also be coming into replace Matt Dotson, who ended his playing career due to injury.

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The ACC is close to finding their new commissioner

The ACC has zeroed in on Northwestern’s athletic director Jim Phillips as their top candidate to replace John Swofford as commissioner.

Late last night Twitter was set ablaze with the rumor that current Northwestern athletic director Jim Phillips will be offered the ACC commissioner job in the near future.

This would be a massive coup for the ACC, as Phillips is extremely highly regarded as an administrator. What he has accomplished at Northwestern is impressive, leading them to break their program long Men’s NCAA tournament drought in 2017 while the football program has reached new heights in winning the West division two of the last three years.

Phillips was one of the final candidates to take over the Big Ten when former commissioner Jim Delaney retired, but wasn’t selected as they opted for Kevin Warren.

Although a formal offer has yet to be given to Phillips to take over for John Swofford, but except him to oversee the ACC for years to come.

Big Ten Conference announces ‘United As One’ social justice campaign

The Big Ten Conference announced a social justice campaign to kickoff the football season known as ‘United As One.’

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The Big Ten Conference announced a social justice campaign to kickoff the football season known as ‘United As One.’  The Big Ten talks about this initiative on the website and all the different social justice awareness campaigns that each school has.

Big Ten Commissioner Kevin Warren stated, “All things are possible in the Big Ten when we unite as one.  I am humbled and deeply appreciative of how our 14 member institutions have communicated, collaborated, and committed to develop a conference-wide campaign focused on creating equality and equity in our society.”

Big Ten Conference Associate Director of Branding Chris Althoff created the ‘United As One’ icon.  The design in the tweet below, is a word cloud in the shape of the number one in the Big Ten logo.  The ‘United As One’ campaign is one of several conference-wide Equality Coalition initiatives dedicated to constructively and collectively recognizing and eliminating racism and hate in our society by creating resources for inclusion, empowerment and accountability.  The Equality Coalition was established in 2020 by the Big Ten with 227 members from all 14 institutions.

Michigan State has elected to wear ‘Black Lives Matter’ stickers on the helmets for this weekend’s game against Rutgers.

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Instant Twitter reaction from the return of Big Ten football

Big Ten football is back. Wisconsin Badger football is back. Those sentences have never felt so good to say. The season will start…

Big Ten football is back. Wisconsin Badger football is back. Those sentences have never felt so good to say.

The season will start the weekend of October 23-24 and will have nine total regular season games and a championship matchup on December 19.

It’s safe to say people reacted to the news in a positive way when it dropped this morning.

Here is the instant Twitter reaction from the Big Ten reinstating their 2020 fall football season:

 

The Wisconsin football team account:

 

Former Badger running back Melvin Gordon:

 

Safety Collin Wilder:

 

Safety Eric Burrell:

 

Quarterback Graham Mertz:

 

Offensive lineman Logan Bruss:

 

Offensive lineman Tyler Beach:

It’s official, the Big Ten set to play football in the fall again

Notre Dame’s neighbors are back to playing football in the fall.

The rollercoaster ride is over. The Big Ten made their return to fall football official this morning.

The plan is to play 8 games with a conference championship game. It remains to be seen if the smaller sample size will be enough for a team from the conference to qualify for a spot in the College Football Playoff.  If it is, it’s not good news for the Irish.

What we do know is the conference looked foolish the whole decision making process. The back-and-forth through crazy rumors, like schools wanting to opt out and let the rest of the conference play. How about last night when Nebraska president Ted Carter leaked the plans on a hot mic, then later said it was taken out of context. You be the judge.

There’s bound to be more bumps in the road ahead for the Big Ten, first-year commissioner Kevin Warren hasn’t had an easy introduction to his new role. What we do know is that the first conference to move away from fall football has changed their mind. The Pac-12 could be close to following the Big Ten, and we could see college football “whole” again soon.

Can Big Ten Commissioner Kevin Warren weather the storm?

Another day, another muddled and murky Big Ten story. This has been Kevin Warren’s legacy and you have to wonder if he has staying power.

Another day, more reports, yet another muddled and murky story emerges. This has been new Big Ten Commissioner Kevin Warren’s legacy, and it is only fifteen months old. Granted these are strange and difficult times, but so far Warren has dropped the ball at every turn. There are now questions swelling if he can weather this storm.

Back when the Big Ten decided to not have a 2020 season, there were rumors, mixed messages, and a general lack of clarity. What ended up happening was the Big Ten reacted too quickly and ended up looking like fools. That was just the start of it all, really.

Shortly after the decision, it seemed like a barrage of questions arose, from lawyers, to players, to athletic directors, congressmen and women, and even the POTUS. All of the messages were similar and asked why there was a lack of transparency in how a decision was arrived at.

Instead? Silence.

As the requests came down asking for Warren to reconsider, he stood fast and said there would be no reconsidering, until there was a reconsideration. Another mixed message, another blight on Warren’s legacy. Then the hot mic in Nebraska occurred, and it was thought the Big Ten was about to announce a fall season. Then, again, silence and mixed messages.

Pete Thamel on revote progress: 'The Big Ten needs to get this right'
Credit: Thomas J. Russo-USA TODAY Sports

This does nothing but lead to rumblings about Warren’s leadership. If the Big Ten does play and revenue is high, then the answer is Warren will probably be able to recover. However, it might take more than that for Warren to stick around.

All anyone wants is clarity and transparency, and without them, the storm rages on, and the Big Ten’s perception continues to take a hit that it won’t recover from for a very, very long time.

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Barry Alvarez: Badgers could be ready for Big Ten return in three weeks

With circulating reports that the Big Ten is expected to reinstate 2020 fall season and start on October 17, Pete Thamel of Yahoo Sports…

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With circulating reports that the Big Ten is expected to reinstate 2020 fall season and start on October 17, Pete Thamel of Yahoo Sports spoke to Wisconsin Athletic Director Barry Alvarez about the program’s potential return to football and learned that Paul Chryst and company “could have a team ready in three weeks.”

Jeff Potrykus of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reported yesterday that “the 14-member Council of Presidents and Chancellors is scheduled to briefed Sunday on the medical updates,” and that “the council could approve the plan Sunday or Monday.”

So the math works out that if the council opts to reinstate the season in the coming days there would be a full month until the target start date of October 17. Big Ten teams, then, would have more than enough time to prepare for the season and have a team ready for when mid-October finally comes around.

After an interesting and confusing month of August it looks like the Big Ten has finally turned the corner towards playing, news that will be music to the ears of Badger fans–obviously if it is able to be done safely.