Big Ten members confident to play football in 2020
Is this is for real and not just something to get our hopes up ?
If it goes through season would start October 17th according to the article .
September 13th, 2020 at 1:29 PM ^
A truncated Big Ten season is going to bring on the normal existential dread that much faster, isn't it? This is where I wish I was able to drink.
In all seriousness, I guess we shall see....
September 13th, 2020 at 1:37 PM ^
Lol - sad but probably true. Also, is there a reason that you are not able to drink?
September 13th, 2020 at 3:16 PM ^
Michigan losing to O$U for as long as we can remember? Being a Lions fan? Either you swear off the hootch or become, as they used to say, dissolute.
September 13th, 2020 at 1:29 PM ^
Let’s goooooooooooooooo
September 13th, 2020 at 1:30 PM ^
SI has an article alleging Schlissel will be voting to play
September 13th, 2020 at 1:37 PM ^
So they have more access to Schlissel than our head coach? SI, just stop. I have a feeling that of all the no votes, one will be his.
September 13th, 2020 at 4:32 PM ^
Doesn’t say their source was Schlissel, so no, they don’t have more access to him than Harbaugh.
September 13th, 2020 at 5:41 PM ^
So who in the hell would he tell he was gonna change his vote to yes, before he actually had a chance to do it? My point being, they are making shit up.
September 13th, 2020 at 5:54 PM ^
You should have stopped at "So, he in the hell."
It's appropriate, because either way he loses. Half of the torch and pitchfork crowd want FOOTBAW BAMN (for those of you at UM in the late 90s, you remember this) and the other half will call for his head if he puts the university at risk by agreeing to a season.
He, in fact, in the hell.
September 13th, 2020 at 6:09 PM ^
Is Michigan part of the 8 team subcommittee? Could have revealed their decision already if they voted to proceed to the full vote.
September 13th, 2020 at 4:35 PM ^
Why? He allowed students to be on campus. That suggests he is somewhat more risk tolerant than the “shut it all down” crowd.
September 13th, 2020 at 5:39 PM ^
Well he voted not to play the first time, before they allowed students on campus, so there is that.
September 13th, 2020 at 1:36 PM ^
It’ll be interesting to see what the format ends up being. Playing 8 consecutive weeks with no byes (is that realistic?) would see the regular season end on December 5 leaving room for the Big 10 Championship on December 12 (which I’d assume is the latest it could wrap up for CFP/Bowl purposes. So, division opponents plus 2 crossover games?
September 13th, 2020 at 1:39 PM ^
Since the CFP/Bowl lineup doesn't have anything to do with the NCAA, I'm sure they would push back a selection.
September 13th, 2020 at 1:42 PM ^
True, I just meant logistically you would think that the bowls and playoff need to be set by then. Unless of course the bowls and playoff themselves are being pushed back. I can’t imagine bowl/playoff season starting on time if the selection doesn’t take place until December 19.
September 13th, 2020 at 2:26 PM ^
I doubt we'll see some 37 bowl games like we did last year in this COVID environment; which would be a good thing. Let's guess there will be at least half as many and in those "red states" if and when they do have them. But, hey; money talks.
September 13th, 2020 at 3:18 PM ^
They can't make money if no one buys tickets. Bowls will be entirely dependant on widespread vaccination as a return to widespread travel.
September 13th, 2020 at 1:46 PM ^
Playing 8 games in 9 weeks. 1 week for a bye with the Conf championship game on 12-19. CFB playoff selection is 12-20.
September 13th, 2020 at 1:38 PM ^
“people familiar with the decision have transitioned from hopeful to confident the league’s football teams will play in 2020.
Those people told the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel they expect the Big Ten’s Council of Presidents and Chancellors will vote to start the season, with the target date Oct. 17.”
How can people be “familiar” with a decision that hasn’t been made yet?
September 13th, 2020 at 1:41 PM ^
Maybe they are all close with Sir?
September 13th, 2020 at 1:41 PM ^
My take Don, they are just trying like hell to put as much pressure on the President's and Chancellors as possible. This was my thought also. They haven't even presented the new "facts" yet they believe it will be all systems go.
September 13th, 2020 at 1:47 PM ^
forgive don if he is a little skeptical. his avatar used to be 'familiar' with flesh and look how that turned out.
September 13th, 2020 at 3:06 PM ^
My skull may not be familiar with flesh these days but my liver is in a very intimate relationship with alcohol.
September 13th, 2020 at 3:50 PM ^
Long term commitment. It must be love.
September 13th, 2020 at 4:25 PM ^
Like all relationships, it takes work and dedication.
September 13th, 2020 at 5:05 PM ^
judging by the negs i took, apparently not everyone around here is supportive of your liver's relationship with mr. booze. just know that i support you big guy.
September 13th, 2020 at 1:50 PM ^
There’s a woman who sleeps with all 14 B1G presidents and chancellors. They interviewed her
September 13th, 2020 at 2:20 PM ^
You leave my grandma out of this!
September 13th, 2020 at 3:00 PM ^
What is her number???
/asking for a friend
September 13th, 2020 at 3:09 PM ^
867-5309
Her name is Jenny.
September 13th, 2020 at 3:28 PM ^
Isn't that Stacy's mom?
September 13th, 2020 at 3:48 PM ^
I had that number for Jesse’s girl. Man, this is confusing...
September 13th, 2020 at 2:28 PM ^
Wouldn't that be nice?
September 13th, 2020 at 5:24 PM ^
As long as she was wearing a mask I'm cool with it.
September 13th, 2020 at 2:38 PM ^
The decision has already been made. They are going to play.
The "vote" based on "new information" and "new protocols" is just a face-saving mechanism.
The writing was on the wall when the Big Ten cancelled too early, and the rest of CFB did not blindly go with them. They have been squirming for a way out ever since.
September 13th, 2020 at 2:52 PM ^
This is correct.
September 13th, 2020 at 1:44 PM ^
ESPN radio was hearing rumors that there were more yes votes, but not sure if it is enough.
September 13th, 2020 at 1:45 PM ^
If you genuinely believe that college football is a key vector of infection of Covid-19, this is doing it backwards. Mid-October is right about when seasonal illnesses start to ramp up, so you’d really want to get in as many games earlier on.
But this was most likely just a dumb bit of posturing, backed by dodgy scientific reasoning, that has blown up in our conference’s face and has made it a national laughingstock. So let’s just drop the charade already.
September 13th, 2020 at 1:54 PM ^
But this was most likely just a dumb bit of posturing, backed by dodgy scientific reasoning, that has blown up in our conference’s face and has made it a national laughingstock.
Anyone laughing at any organization for playing it safe is borderline psychotic, IMO.
Sturgis, indoor weddings, and frat parties: those, we can laugh and cry at.
September 13th, 2020 at 3:34 PM ^
Noooooope
September 13th, 2020 at 1:56 PM ^
Masks and social distancing also apply to flu. We already have experience flu and Covid together.
This can be done.
September 13th, 2020 at 2:31 PM ^
Absolutely! Had you not posted this comment, I would have. My own guess is that this coming flu season will be much less contagious due to all the precautions we are taking with COVID and it won't change anytime soon-meaning many months or well into next year.
September 13th, 2020 at 4:46 PM ^
My doctor thinks it will be one of the lightest flu seasons because the flu has a low R value already. Everything we’re doing to lower R for covid lowers it for the flu. But he still recommends getting the flu shot.
September 13th, 2020 at 2:07 PM ^
It's very telling that in a country that just passed 200k deaths due to COVID-19 you're a "laughingstock" if you look at all that mayhem and say "maybe we shouldn't have college football right now", but if you talked about "family" and talked about how kids were less likely to get sick at practice than at home (which is, at best, dodgy scientific reasoning given how many breakouts we've seen on teams), you're trumpeted as a hero of personal liberty.
It's a dumb idea to play football right now, and letting fans into the stands so that they can get each other sick (because I saw enough of the FSU and KSU crowds to conclude the limited mask wearing and general disregard for distance were in full effect) doesn't help. But presidents are humans and don't want to be yelled at and sued by people who, frankly, won't be held liable if/when someone associated with their schools gets sick and, possibly, die. So they'll vote for some version of a season, it'll be a bunch of fits and starts, and the people who just don't want to be bored on Saturdays will keep making rationalizations about why their desire to see these games is more high-minded than it is.
September 13th, 2020 at 2:15 PM ^
The Big Ten never actually provided their reasoning. And when the commissioner deemed it safe for his own kid to play college football, in the hotbed of Southern America no less, the whole "we only care about the safety of the players" argument rings hollow.
September 13th, 2020 at 2:33 PM ^
Well said SB - a thread with this exact thesis was just recently deleted.
I respect your acknowledgment of the political charade that has gone on around this.
September 13th, 2020 at 2:51 PM ^
So wait, it's a political charade if people don't want to play but not a charade if they do? I only know one President who called up Kevin Warren and then tweeted about all the pressure he was putting on the league to play.