Wednesday Big 12 Morning Rush: Leaders saves college football for now

The Wednesday Big 12 morning rush headlines provided by Sports Illustrated and USA TODAY Sports.

Each morning Longhorns Wire will share the top stories from around the Big 12 Conference. For this edition of the Big 12 morning rush, Sports Illustrated and USA TODAY Sports provide the headlines.

The Big 12 Keeps Hope of a Fall Football Season Alive—For Now

Ross Dellenger of Sports Illustrated reported while the Big 12 Conference is moving forward towards a fall season, are keeping hope alive for now. Obviously this doesn’t say that a season will in fact happen but there is still time to ensure that it does.

Before their presidents OK’ed to continue the season, Big 12 athletic directors got briefed for 90 minutes by a medical panel, which led to vigorous debate. Some thought it too unsafe. Others thought it safe enough. It was a back-and-forth between administrators, all the while with the season somewhat on the line. The decision among Big 12 leaders came down to ramifications of not playing a season (player mental health, structure, etc.) vs. uncertain risks of playing a season.

They settled on the former. According to league sources, the conference also decided to add an extra layer to their COVID-19 protocols, requiring more intensive, mandatory heart imaging tests—a decision rooted in virus-related cardiac issues.

Chargers head coach Anthony Lynn reveals he had COVID-19 in opening scene of ‘Hard Knocks’

Before he was appearing on Hard Knocks as the head coach of the Los Angeles Chargers, Anthony Lynn was an All-American running back for the Texas Tech Red Raiders. USA TODAY Sports writer Jim Reineking shared a story about Lynn contracting the coronavirus.

“I can’t promise you that you’re not going to get infected. … I got infected,” the 51-year-old Lynn said.

Entering his fourth season at the helm of the Chargers, Lynn used his positive coronavirus test as a motivational tool for his players.

“Be patient, man. Be patient. Fellas, this year is not like any year we’ve had in the National Football League,” Lynn said. “There’s going to be chaos. It’s going to be change and it’s going to come every single day. The goals, the objectives, will not change.

WATCH: WVU Unveils New State-of-the-Art Locker Room

The West Virginia Mountaineers Sports Illustrated shared a video on the new state-of-the-art locker room in Morgantown, West Virginia. Maybe this explains a little as to why Tony Fields II chose them over Texas? Ok maybe not but still a nice set up.