September 13th, 2020 at 11:56 PM ^
Thought that was a given. if Nebraska wasn’t allowed to play Due to majority rules, the opposite scenario has to also apply
September 14th, 2020 at 12:37 AM ^
REPORT: Big Ten may or may not play football!
Its all very exciting. Every. Single. Day. Can’t wait for tomorrow’s headlines.
September 14th, 2020 at 12:44 AM ^
But individuals can opt out, right? So what if all the individuals opted out on a team? Chaos reigns!
September 14th, 2020 at 2:30 AM ^
Rutgers has opted out since they joined the conference and MSU has opted out the last two years, so nothing of substance has changed in that time frame
September 14th, 2020 at 12:08 AM ^
And everyone keeps citing an 8 game schedule over 9 weeks, so it'll likely be for Michigan:
MSU
Rutgers
Indiana
Maryland
PSU
OSU
Wisconsin
Minnesota
That's a pretty brutal draw if they don't completely revamp the schedules.
September 14th, 2020 at 12:10 AM ^
If we're going to play, we should have fans in the stadiums. As many as want to come.
Let's just get it over with already.
September 14th, 2020 at 8:04 AM ^
"Let's just get it over with already."
Which part, the spread or the dying? I understand the players have a low likelihood of serious health consequences, how about Don Brown, his wife, children and grandchildren.
September 14th, 2020 at 8:53 AM ^
Hatter is alright. Like me, he remains in the camp who thought the B1G made the right decision to cancel. His comment is likely being made out of frustration, and I can’t say I blame him.
After all, lots of college and pro teams are having fans in the stands. If we’re going to pretend like we’re not worried about the virus anymore, best to just go ballz out I guess??
September 14th, 2020 at 9:15 AM ^
After all, lots of college and pro teams are having fans in the stands.
Did any other pro teams allow fans in the stands besides the Chiefs and Jags?
September 14th, 2020 at 9:41 AM ^
I don’t know the exact number for the NFL. Maybe “lots” was the wrong word, but if there are 2 teams already, I’m guessing there will be more soon enough.
Basically there are no rules against it right? Unless state authorities disagree?
PS - I think it’s a horrible idea if that’s not already clear!
September 14th, 2020 at 9:53 AM ^
I do believe the Cowboys are intending on having fans next week for their home opener according to Jerry. Not sure in what capacity, though.
Edit: It looks like the Dolphins will too for their home opener
September 14th, 2020 at 11:50 AM ^
Correct. It's frustrating as all hell to me that so many people are trying to pretend that everything is fine.
Everything is not fine. At all.
September 14th, 2020 at 3:50 PM ^
Completely agree hatter
But their leader continues to host big crowds with little to no masks and no social distancing. So they think everything is fine.
September 14th, 2020 at 12:34 AM ^
At this point I don't know why everyone breathlessly reports a bunch of contradictory rumors. If football picks up in the fall then we'll hear the details, but I doubt any of these sources are particularly plugged in and are in fact mostly speculating based on pieces of conversation they've heard and the freedom that semi-anonymity provides.
September 14th, 2020 at 12:38 AM ^
Good point: McMurphy has not exactly proven to have the same accuracy standards as - say - a John U ?
September 14th, 2020 at 11:17 AM ^
McMurphy is one of the most respected/accurate reporters in the business. They didn't nickname him SOURCES for nothing.
September 14th, 2020 at 12:36 AM ^
Fascinating. This all or nothing approach seems contradictory to the integrity of institutions that may still sincerely balk at supporting football during a pandemic. 1 month ago, 11 of the presidents voted against playing because of player safety concerns. If 6 of those 11 change their minds, the other 5 institutional presidents will have no choice to opt out? This lack of nuance seems very 2020 to me.
September 14th, 2020 at 2:21 AM ^
Nothing in this says that member schools dont have a choice to opt out. Of course they would. What this implies that there wont be a partial big ten season where some schools play and some don't. Either all will play or none will. I read that to mean that any decision to move forward would need to be essentially unanimous.
September 14th, 2020 at 8:07 AM ^
What? Paraphrasing it said "before some schools might opt out, but now that won't happen". Is it because you can't opt out? Is it because no one will choose to opt out (perhaps they were told opting out of playing means opting out of revenue share)? I don't see how this implies that they wouldn't move forward with a partial B1G season if someone did indeed opt out.
September 14th, 2020 at 10:02 AM ^
New Jersey has a travel advisory that includes 35 states.Visitors and returnees from those states are asked to quarantine for 14 days. Michigan is not part of it, but other Big Ten states are. Rutgers may be able to get an exception for their team, but it's still an issue for them.
September 14th, 2020 at 12:47 AM ^
Where does McMurphy rank on the Yoder-Yacht-Patrick-Webb-Bacon scale?
September 14th, 2020 at 1:23 AM ^
? = ? > Patrick > McMurphy >> Yoder=?
(imo)
September 14th, 2020 at 9:34 AM ^
He's naturally not as glued directly into the program like Webb and Bacon are, but he's a legit reporter, and probably has better college sources than Patrick.
Basically goes Yoder and Sir Yacht on the bottom. Patrick in the middle. McMurphy in the top-middle, and then Webb and Bacon on the very top (at least in terms of reporting Michigan/Big Ten stories)
September 14th, 2020 at 1:05 PM ^
Good point - and after today's ‘report’ from Patrick I want to revise and put McMurphy ahead of Patrick.
September 14th, 2020 at 1:25 AM ^
The most B1G thing ever would be to agree to start a season right when flu season takes off.
September 14th, 2020 at 3:18 AM ^
We have flu shots and masks and social distancing impact flu also. I don’t know why people don’t understand why this.
September 14th, 2020 at 8:21 AM ^
yeah, with masks and social distancing the hope and likely outcome is that the flu is not as bad as it normally is. That is except for those that have the FREEDOM!!!!!!. Those people will still get and spread the flu.
September 14th, 2020 at 1:28 AM ^
On the right side of history! /s
September 14th, 2020 at 2:15 AM ^
The key question now is when in the fall. I can see holdouts now trying to push the schedule back in order to make this as difficult on those who want to play as possible.
If it's after Thanksgiving, you won't have any teams eligible for the CFP, and because of that, any seniors who have any shot at the NFL will most likely elect not to play.
September 14th, 2020 at 2:28 AM ^
I demand that the season only starts after Justin Fields signs an agent
September 14th, 2020 at 10:01 AM ^
So you feel he doesn't already have an agreement with an agent? Aww, how quaint!
September 14th, 2020 at 3:09 AM ^
I never thought sir yacht a lot would ever be right but I guess he may be. I think there is a good chance for an October 10th start at some revised conference schedule. The B1G 10 champion should be able to get into the playoffs. A November start would mean only a B1G championship and there is now guarantee that the PAC 12 will even play, so no bowl games as well.
September 14th, 2020 at 6:08 AM ^
He’s still not “right.” You can’t throw out 20 different predictions and have one be vaguely correct and then pound your chest about being right. I could sit here and predict every day when I wake up that this is the day the B1G votes. Doesn’t mean I’m “right” or that I’m plugged in. I simply made countless predictions until I WAS right.
A broken clock is right twice a day and whatnot.
September 14th, 2020 at 11:16 AM ^
The world we're living in today. So goddamn stupid.
September 14th, 2020 at 8:11 AM ^
If i start 25 mutual funds and one of them hits it big in 2 years, will you send me all your money? Since, i'll have a demonstrated ability to pick stocks.
September 14th, 2020 at 3:24 AM ^
Although the divisions are incredibly unbalanced, I wouldn't mind a 6 game divisional only schedule and the big ten championship.
September 14th, 2020 at 9:29 AM ^
Guarantee this: We would go 6-0 and the CFP would say we don't qualify because we didn't play the minimum 8 games. They will set this minimum game requirement on Dec. 19 at 11:30PM.
September 14th, 2020 at 4:14 AM ^
The questions remain: were they pleasured into making this decision?
And will the Doublemint Twins™ double their pleasure and double their fun prior to the actual vote?
September 14th, 2020 at 8:05 AM ^
I haven’t been following too much with the voting and everything for the upcoming season due to work. But I guess I’m not understanding why it’s worth risking transmission and long term effects from COVID just to see an 8 game season? I get the kids want to play and make memories but isn’t it far more important to contain this virus? Hell, my job has me interacting with apartment communities downtown Columbus that houses OSU players, and management have said they’re acting as if there is no virus! So, how is this all going to work if players are doing the college life scene, and then going to the field and playing?
September 14th, 2020 at 8:45 AM ^
From my perspective, this is all basically being driven by OSU, who has every intention of making the playoff and Fields winning the Heisman. That’s why they’re ok with an 8 game schedule.
To me this demonstrates that the B1G basically has the same issue as the Big 12 with regards to Texas. One historically dominant program running the entire show.
A month ago, 11 conference teams voted NOT to play. Then OSU pissed and moaned and threatened to sue, and now here we are. Sounds like they were able to bully at least 6 university presidents into changing their minds.
This is now OSU’s conference. Maybe it has been for a while.
September 14th, 2020 at 3:55 PM ^
Unfortunately, you’re probably right. Money makes this thing run. The hell with it that there’s a generational pandemic going on. It’s so ass backwards today in this country.
September 14th, 2020 at 8:49 AM ^
Oh and regarding your comment about OSU players, I’m sure they will miraculously be COVID free for most/all of the season. Except the third string of course, which will experience minor outbreaks before games against conference bottom feeders.
OSU is truly clowning the rest of the conference here. Do we really think they are going to play by the rules when it comes to testing? What a joke.
September 14th, 2020 at 12:52 PM ^
Rules are only for suckers and the little people. This is the lesson that college football has taught me.
This Big Ten should have independent (not affiliated with any school) officials that perform instant tests on every member of both teams the morning of the game, and then the league suspends anybody that tests positive. This what should happen, but they will never require that. They will instead rely upon teams like OSU to do the right thing.
September 14th, 2020 at 7:06 PM ^
3,215 .......
September 14th, 2020 at 8:50 AM ^
Push the start back untill Halloween.
1) late enough so that OSU can't make the playoffs. (I'm all for ruining their season anyway possible)
2) Seems like an appropriate start date give weirdness of 2020.
3) It'll give the kids in LA something to do on Halloween.
September 14th, 2020 at 8:52 AM ^
So...I thought we had growing evidence that Covid19 is a dire threat to student athletes and their hearts. If we play, are people who supported that notion fervently going to be extremely upset at the university? Why is this acceptable risk all of the sudden? Not saying everyone will make this pivot, but many will.
September 14th, 2020 at 8:57 AM ^
I’m not making that pivot. I’m still concerned that they don’t know enough about COVID related myocarditis in athletes, and I worry a player will drop dead at some point. I also worry about a coach or other staff member dying as well. Or the spouse of a coach, etc.
I truly hope it doesn’t happen, but I’m not very confident it won’t.
September 14th, 2020 at 10:03 AM ^
That's fair, and I don't doubt that many will stick with their priors (which is fine since us playing or not should not be evidence in support of or against the existence of risk), but I will be curious to watch how the mood of the board (and some specific posters) might shift.
September 14th, 2020 at 10:32 AM ^
Agree. I will be curious too.
I certainly can't speak for "the board", however my sense is that what comes across as "the mood" is usually an exaggeration of what the true mood is. Things escalate quickly and posters feel the need to come out of the gate with the fiery trident. I'm sure there are exceptions, but that is my opinion. I could be wrong.