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Heather Dinich
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ESPN Senior Writer
College football reporter
Joined ESPN.com in 2007
Graduate of Indiana University
Adam Rittenberg
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ESPN Senior Writer
Graduate of Northwestern University.
College football reporter.
Ohio State coach Ryan Day on Thursday released a declaration through the school that meant a possible return in mid-October, however likewise continued to question the interaction from the Big Ten considering that its decision last month to delay the season.
” While I understand the Big Ten Conferences decision to postpone the football season since of health and wellness factors to consider, the communication of info from the Big Ten following the decision has been disappointing and often unclear,” Day said in the prepared declaration.
” However, we still have a chance to provide our young men what they have actually worked so hard for: an opportunity to safely complete for a championship game this fall. I could not possibly be prouder of how this group, our medical workers, athletic director and president have stayed together and handled through this exceptionally challenging time with many unanswered concerns. The Big Ten medical subcommittee has actually done an exceptional job of producing a safe pathway toward returning to play in mid-October.”
Signed up with ESPN.com in 2008.
1 RelatedDays declaration comes simply days before the ACC formally starts its season on Saturday. The Big Ten revealed Aug. 11 that it would hold off the fall sports season, including football, because of concerns around the coronavirus pandemic.
The leagues council of presidents/chancellors voted 11-3 to hold off, with only Ohio State, Nebraska and Iowa electing to proceed with the fall season, sources informed ESPN.
” These boys and their moms and dads have asked many concerns that I do not have a response to, but the one that hurts the most is, Why can these other teams and players play and we cant?” Day said. “Duke is playing Notre Dame, and Clemson is playing Wake Forest this weekend. Our players would like to know: Why cant they play?”
Day wasnt the only Big Ten coach to voice his disappointments on Thursday. Penn State coach James Franklin informed Keshawn, JWill & & Zubin on ESPN Radio that he didnt have “a concern with the decision,” however it was the timing and the process that bothered him.
” The truth is were dependent on the Big Ten to drive this thing forward,” Franklin said. In terms of where were at, Im not really sure, and thats part of the problem.
” A huge part of management is to be able to deliver answers to peoples concerns, and likewise to be able to drive people toward a vision and drive individuals towards a strategy. Weve never ever actually totally been told or understood why the season was shut down in the very first location, and there hasnt been a whole lot of communication considering that. When I say communication, weve had conferences, however Im talking about actually understanding why and what and how we got here.”
On Tuesday, politicians from 6 states sent out a letter to Big Ten commissioner Kevin Warren and league presidents and chancellors, prompting the conference to reconsider its postponement. All 10 legislators who signed the letter are Republicans, and the 6 states they represent consist of 7 Big Ten schools.
The Big Ten reacted with a statement Wednesday stating the conference desires the same thing as the lawmakers– for “sports to continue safely”– and that it will continue to work “to identify chances to resume competitors as quickly as it is safe to do so.”
Sources have told ESPN the Big Tens go back to competition task force is getting closer to providing upgraded findings to the leagues presidents and chancellors, who might vote once again on competition timelines as early as next week.
” The reality is were dependent on the Big Ten to drive this thing forward,” Franklin stated.” A huge part of leadership is to be able to provide responses to peoples concerns, and likewise to be able to drive people toward a vision and drive people towards a plan. Weve never really totally been informed or understood why the season was shut down in the first location, and there hasnt been a whole lot of interaction because. When I say interaction, weve had meetings, however Im talking about really comprehending why and what and how we got here.”
The Big Ten medical subcommittee has done an outstanding task of creating a safe path towards returning to play in mid-October.”
