If you’re here, you more than likely already know that Ohio State quarterback Justin Fields started an online petition to have Big Ten commissioner Kevin Warren and the rest of the league leadership reinstate the 2020 fall football season. You probably also know that it has garnered over 200,000 signatures as of late Sunday night.
The move got national attention and plenty has been written about it here on this site and beyond. But what we were really waiting for was some kind of response from Warren and the Big Ten. I mean after four schools had football parents write letters to the Big Ten offices, and now this, the pushback and attention have been about as extreme and polarizing as it can be.
So, you kind of expected some sort of response. Well, we do have one, and it is the good ‘ole “no comment at this time,” according to ESPN’s Adam Rittenberg.
#B1G is aware of Justin Fields' (@justnfields) petition but has no comment at this time, per league spokesman. Fields' #WeWantToPlay petition has topped 150,000 signatures in six and a half hours.
— Adam Rittenberg (@ESPNRittenberg) August 16, 2020
Okay?
Look, no matter how you feel about where all of this stands — and there are good arguments on both sides — where is the leadership here on something that has gotten this big is on the verge of getting out of control? Some would argue that it’s already out of control and will only continue to spiral.
Why not meet it head-on? I get that there’s no answer that’s going to appease everyone, let alone the majority here, but when something is nearing a big elephant in the room, rarely is just letting it take care of itself ever the answer. However, that appears to be the path the Big Ten is taking. Maybe because Warren and company just don’t know how to respond and that might be even more troubling.
This isn’t going away though so grab your popcorn. Something tells me we’re going to hear more developments on what can only be considered a no-win situation.
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.