Tag: Nebraska Cornhuskers

Are signs pointing to a Big Ten fall football announcement tonight?

Take it for what it’s worth, but there have been some positive signs shared to Twitter today that indicate a pending Big Ten announcement.

Okay listen, before we get too excited, we’ve been down this road before. We’ve heard reports and read the Buckeye — er, tea leaves thinking the conference was on the cusp of announcing that Big Ten football was back for this fall. Each time, things went on with nary a whisper.

Well, here we are again. There are a couple of things that were shared on Twitter today that do point to something perhaps coming today or in the very near future — and it’s nothing but positive.

Again, take it for what it’s worth. We didn’t write the memo, we are only distributing it.

First, the official Minnesota Football Twitter account posted the following this morning. Is it a sign of things to come? Maybe, maybe not.

Then, perhaps even more interesting is the cat that may have been let out of the bag by Nebraska President Ted Carter on local radio station KETZ this morning. Apparently, according to the Omaha World-Herald (subscription may be required), Carter, not realizing his mic was on, said — and I quote, “We’re getting ready to announce the Huskers and Big Ten football tonight.”

Interesting no? All the disclaimers that you could think of apply here, but stay close to your mobile devices, Twitter, or however you get your sports news and we’ll let you know just as soon as we hear anything.

If anything at all.

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Report: Ohio State and Nebraska football communicating behind scenes on Big Ten postponement

According to Husker Online’s Sean Callahan, Ohio State and Nebraska have been communicating behind the scenes on pushing for fall football.

There’s been no program more vocal about the Big Ten’s decision to postpone the fall football season more than the Nebraska Cornhuskers. Head coach Scott Frost came out immediately with a dissenting message that the program was aligned in looking for somewhere to play — even if it meant doing so outside the conference.

When it comes to Ohio State, though head coach Ryan Day and athletic director Gene Smith weren’t quite as vocal upfront, there wasn’t exactly a ringing endorsement for Commissioner Kevin Warren and the voting of the university presidents.

But what was going on behind the scenes? According to one Nebraska beat-writer, he says that there’s been a bond formed between the Husker and Buckeye brass. So much so that it appears Ohio State administrators were very interested in what was going on in Lincoln.

Husker Online’s Sean Callahan appeared on the Bishop and Laurinaitis Show Thursday on the ESPN affiliate 97.1 The Fan in Columbus. He said the two schools have been communicating through the whole process, most notably about the lawsuit eight Nebraska players brought against the league.

“As far as the lawsuit goes, I can tell you Ohio State had high-level officials talking to Nebraska about it behind the scenes and a lot of interest,” said Callahan. “I don’t know if they entertained doing something similar in … Ohio State and Nebraska kept fighting in this fight to get to where we’re at possibly with a re-vote on Friday.”

You can listen to the entire exchange and interview at about the 103-minute mark below.

Interesting no? It’s been clear through this shock and awe the Big Ten unleashed on everyone that Ohio State has tried to play the balancing act. It has been pushing to play and fighting for its players, while also not pouring kerosene on the bridge to the Big Ten offices in Chicagoland and wielding a blow torch in the direction of Warren.

But make no mistake. Ohio State wants to play, and it has continued to press along in a stern and discerning way.

No matter how you look at it, here we are. There continues to be some optimism in places like Columbus, Lincoln, and other locales in the conference. Optimism that there might be a reversal to some extent of waiting the virus out until spring in the Big Ten, and it looks like Buckeyes and Corn might end up making a pretty good casserole no matter how it turns out.

Who knew?

 

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Big Ten ordered to provide discovery on vote to postpone season in expedited manner

On Wednesday, the Big Ten was ordered by a Lancaster County Nebraska judge to provide documents detailing the fall football postponement.

And the drama surrounding the Big Ten’s decision to postpone the fall football season marches on.

On Wednesday, Mike Flood, the lead attorney for the eight Nebraska players that filed a lawsuit against the Big Ten’s decision-making process to suspend the season, announced a win for his clients. Included in the statement is the revelation that Lancaster County District Court judge Susan Strong has “ordered the Big Ten conference to produce more information and documents regarding the ‘vote,’ as well as the governing documents related to the decision-making process.”

This appears to be a big setback for the Big Ten. It filed its own brief late last week asking that the lawsuit be dismissed, but at the least, it looks like the conference will have to produce proof of its assertions made in the brief — notably the 11-3 vote and details surrounding medical advice it used to come to a determination to shelve the season.

Many thought that the creative nature of the lawsuit against the Big Ten would run up against an issue because it is unprecedented in its scope and use of some of the legal avenues that can be taken, but that does not appear to be the case.

And that’s not all. Because of the sensitive and time-driven nature of the request, the Big Ten has been given until September 12 to produce all documents surrounding whether an official vote was taken on the decision, as well as the final tally. It does not have to provide specifics on what schools voted which way.

The Big Ten also has to submit its entire bylaws. What was originally provided had the majority of the 13 pages redacted.

So start the clock. It’s just ten days and counting before we get an answer one way or another on what vote — if any — were taken, and what type of medical advice and studies were used to make such an earth-shattering decision.

Basically, folks are finally going to see what should have likely been provided all along.

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Contact/Follow us @BuckeyesWire on Twitter, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Ohio State news, notes and opinion.

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Big Ten mulls options, including Thanksgiving kickoff

The Big Ten is mulling options about when to start its college football season.

The college football merry-go-round amid the coronavirus pandemic picks up speed every day it seems. Now, comes a report the Big Ten, which postponed fall football, is considering different start dates for a season, including as soon as Thanksgiving weekend.

Per the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel:

According to two college football people familiar with the Big Ten, those talks have generated a new option, starting a Big Ten season of at least eight games the week of Thanksgiving. They spoke on the condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the matter.

The Journal Sentinel reported earlier this month that league officials were working on a plan to play an eight-game season beginning in January, with the games to be played in indoor facilities.

Yahoo’s Pete Thamel weighs in with this:

Nebraska football players sue the Big Ten conference over the postponement of fall sports

Players are filing a lawsuit against the conference after the postponement of fall sports

The drama surrounding Nebraska and the Big Ten continued today as eight football players filed a lawsuit against the conference surrounding the decision to cancel fall sports. According to the Omaha World-Herald, the eight Husker players represented in the case are Garret Snodgrass, Garrett Nelson, Ethan Piper, Noa Pola-Gates, Alante Brown, Brant Banks, Brig Banks, and Jackson Hannah.

The suit, which was obtained by the Omaha World-Herald, lists three specific counts against the Big Ten:

  • Wrongful interference with business expectations — that the season represents an opportunity for players to work towards a career in football and develop brands for name/image/likeness use later.
  • Breach of contract by not holding an actual vote within its Council of Presidents and Chancellors.
  • Declaratory judgment by either not actually voting on the decision or being unable to produce evidence of a vote.

The Big Ten has already drafted a response that claims the lawsuit has “no merit.”

We will continue to update you on this developing story at BadgersWire when more information becomes available.

 

Report: Nebraska football players file lawsuit against Big Ten for fall football postponement

According to the Omaha World-Herald, 8 Nebraska players have filed a lawsuit against the Big Ten’s decision to postpone the football season.

The Big Ten’s decision to postpone the fall football season officially has its first lawsuit in the making.

Earlier Thursday, Buckeyes Wire reported the involvement of well-known attorney and collegiate athlete advocate Tom Mars in regard to the Big Ten football parent movement. Mars has already sent FOIA (Freedom of Information Act) letters to all public Big Ten institutions requesting communications around the decision-making process between the university leaders and the conference.

And now, a report has also surfaced from the Omaha World-Herald that eight Nebraska football players have filed a lawsuit against the Big Ten over the postponed season as well. The suit was filed in the District Court of Lancaster County and represents Husker players Garrett Snodgrass, Garrett Nelson, Ethan Piper, Noa Pola-Gates, Alante Brown, Brant Banks, Brig Banks and Jackson Hannah. The attorney involved in the process is Mike Flood.

“Our Clients want to know whether there was a vote and the details of any vote, and whether the Big Ten followed its own rules in reaching its decision,” Flood told the Omaha World-Herald. “Sadly, these student-athletes have no other recourse than filing a lawsuit against their conference.”

Flood went on to tell the World-Herald that the lawsuit is “not about the money or damages, but about real-life relief.”

According to the report, the filing focuses on three counts against the Big Ten.

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Next … The three legal counts against the Big Ten

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All the Big Ten football parents’ letters: Ohio State, Penn State, Iowa, Nebraska

We’ve got all the letters sent to the Big Ten and Kevin Warren by Ohio State, Nebraska, Iowa, and Penn State football players’ parents.

This crazy past week or so of college football news is going to be unparalleled for quite some time. From conferences canceling/postponing fall football, to others being on the fence, to still some going all out to provide competitive environments in the fall for their athletes, it’s been a zany circus unlike any we’ve seen for quite some time — maybe ever.

The Big Ten set it all off by being the first Power Five conference to postpone college football in the fall, and it’s all been a whirling derby of chaos since then.

Nebraska and Ohio State both entertained ideas of trying to go against the Big Ten and play somewhere in the fall, but eventually pulled back and released statements supporting Kevin Warren’s Big Ten ideals.

But it didn’t stop there. In fact, as the college football world turns, so too do the days of our lives. Several parents of football players at Big Ten schools are starting to send mail to Kevin Warren and the Big Ten offices calling for better communication, transparency, and even the reversal of the decision to not play in the fall.

We’ve grabbed all the letters from Ohio State, Iowa, Penn State, and  Nebraska (pending) football players’ parents for you in one place. Enjoy the reading.

Next … The Ohio State parent letter

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To leave or not to leave? Nebraska’s flirtatious look at sticking it to the Big Ten

Just before and after the Big Ten’s decision to postpone the football season to spring, Nebraska got a little too big for its britches.

There’s no way else to put it. The last week or so of the college football world was one we’ll never forget. The Big Ten and Pac-12 both made the expected decisions to postpone the fall football seasons, and that set off a chain reaction of emotion and reported animosity within the league.

While most schools toed the company line and sent out statements in support of the league’s decision to be ultra-conservative amid the coronavirus pandemic, there are two schools in particular that flirted with going out on an island to find somewhere else to play in the fall.

The Cornhuskers were the first to thumb its nose up at the league before the decision to postpone the season was even announced. Like an independent and stubborn foster child, Huskers’ coach Scott Frost got up in front of the media and vowed to play in the fall no matter what.

“We want to play no matter who it is or where it is, so we’ll see how those chips fall. We certainly hope it’s in the Big Ten, if it isn’t, I think we’re prepared to look for other options.”

And while many applauded the spectacle of disdain from Lincoln, others heavily criticized Nebraska as a program still hanging on to the past and trying to throw around some weight that is a few pounds lighter than it used to be.

Following the comments by Frost, many analysts, including Michigan star Desmond Howard, had choice words for the program even though the Wolverine outfit looks a lot like Nebraska’s these days, only in shades of Maize and Blue.

After the Big Ten made it official, Nebraska then came out with yet another stubborn push back statement filled with disappointment. In it, Chancellor Ronnie Green, President Ted Carter, AD Bill Moos, and Frost made it clear the program would still look to play in the fall. They made it sound like they’d call up the local YMCA or travel to American Somoa to do so.

Oh boy. That led to some quotes from Big Ten commissioner Kevin Warren to Pete Thamel of Yahoo! Sports indicating the Cornhuskers were on shaky ground.

In other words, go to your room, put all the electronics away, turn out the light, and go to bed Nebraska. Oh, and you’ve lost the right to use the car. Give me those keys.

But hey, all of this has an amicable ending — or so we think. Who knows who called who first, or if there were threats of the mob getting involved, but there must have been some pretty difficult conversations that resulted in a come to Jesus moment. That’s because Nebraska issued a statement just a couple of days later that appeared to diffuse the situation.

That sure sounds like Nebraska has quit shucking corn aggressively and is now ready to see this whole spring season thing out.

Whew.

You know, it’s good to see everyone trying to play in the sandbox together now, but part of me was rooting for some of that sand to be slung around as mud pies. We are left to wonder what would have truly happened if Nebraska would have followed through with trying to play this fall somewhere on the dark side of the moon, presumably with intelligent life somewhere outside the Milky Way Galaxy.

And before you get to critical of Nebraska, remember Ohio State had it’s own less stern look at playing in the fall before Gene Smith “got sent for.”

Oh well. Back to reality and a boring wait for a spring schedule that’ll never happen I suppose.

 

Contact/Follow us @BuckeyesWire on Twitter, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Ohio State news, notes and opinion.

We have a forum and message board now. Get in on the conversation about Ohio State athletics by joining the Buckeyes Wire Forum.

Desmond Howard has some choice words for Nebraska

Earlier today on ESPN’s Get Up, former Heisman Trophy winner for Michigan, Desmond Howard, had a few choice words on the rumors of Nebras…

Earlier today on ESPN’s Get Up, former Heisman Trophy winner for Michigan, Desmond Howard, had a few choice words on the rumors of Nebraska wanting to leave the Big Ten.

This comes after Nebraska head coach, Scott Frost, stated in his press conference that Nebraska wants to play this season no matter what and that the Cornhuskers will look elsewhere to play if the Big Ten cancels. The press conference did occur before the postponement of the fall sports season from the Big Ten, but it still looks like a strong possibility that Nebraska may leave to play in another conference.

Nebraska recently joined the Big Ten in 2011 and has previously played in the Big 12 Conference, who are still planning to play football in the fall. The Big 12 would likely be the Conference that Nebraska would move to if they do decide to leave the Big Ten.

BadgersWire will continue to update you as this situation in the Badgers division of the Big Ten West develops.

Nebraska has not reached out to the Big 12 to schedule games

The quick thing to do after the Big Ten announced a cancelation of fall sports was to throw Nebraska into the Big 12, SEC or ACC. 

The quick thing to do after the Big Ten announced a cancelation of fall sports was to throw Nebraska into the Big 12, SEC or ACC.

The former Big 12 member made strong comments the last two days in regards to trying to play a football in the fall of 2020. It was met with pushback from the Big Ten and its members, but the thought was compelling.

According to Big 12 commissioner Bob Bowlsby during a conference call with the media Wednesday, he said that Nebraska has not reached out in any former regarding to play Big 12 schools.

Nebraska left for the Big Ten from the Big 12 in 2011. The Cornhuskers had long been rivals of Oklahoma and Texas. Nebraska played in the last Big 12 Championship game before it stopped in 2010, losing to Oklahoma.

The Big 12 released its conference schedule on Wednesday after officially announcing they were still pushing towards a fall season. The Sooners announced they will start the 2020 fall season on Sept. 12 against Missouri State.

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