Players and fans react to Big Ten’s decision to compete in fall sports
INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) — Big Ten student-athletes want the conference and the NCAA to review its current safety protocols. The Big Ten is moving forward with the college football season, but some players are disappointed in what they call a “lack of leadership.”
More than 1,000 football players are represented in a letter published by the Players Tribune.
“Given that the NCAA and conference leadership have not asked for our input, we feel compelled to call for clarity, commitment, and action regarding our common-sense proposal,” part of the letter stated.
On that proposal there are five areas they’d like to see more regulations. Among those are calls for testing three days a week, mandatory masks in all athletic facilities and whistleblower protections.
Big Ten games are set to start as early as Sept. 3.
Back in March, when the Big 10 announced they were canceling the remainder of the men’s basketball tournament in Indianapolis, sports fans were at Bankers Life Fieldhouse. Now as the conference heads towards fall sports and another tournament planned here in Indianapolis in December, fans worry they will be met with the same disappointment.
This week Big Ten sports teams can start pre-season practice with football games scheduled in less than a month. With professional leagues struggling to keep players and staff healthy, college sports fans wonder how the college teams are going to make it work.
“There is just a lot of inconsistency whether it is like disinfecting the locker rooms, it is just really hard to get everything set in stone when there is not a bubble situation,” said Joseph Thomas who plays on a club soccer team at Ball State University.
As part of the announcement the Big Ten said, “While the Conference remains hopeful for a September 2020 start in all fall sports, including football, issuing a schedule does not guarantee that competition will occur.”
“I want it to happen but I feel like we need to take more precautions with it,” said Jojo Raccanello, college student and sports fan.
On Wednesday the NCAA released requirements schools and conferences must meet to move forward with fall sports. Divisions have to decide by August 21 if their seasons will happen.
“No one knows what is going to happen tomorrow or the next day so why risk anybody else’s lives? I think you just take the year off and build up from there,” said sports fan Evan Brown.
Teams in the Big Ten will have a 10-game conference-only schedule. With the Big Ten Football Championship game scheduled at Lucas Oil Stadium on December 5.
Optimism is running short for some fans wondering if the league will make it to December.
“I don’t think so not at all. I think there is going to be another outbreak that is probably going to happen that is going to stop everything else for the entire year,” said Brown.
“I want to be optimistic and say yes,” said Thomas.