Yesterday, basically:
— TexAgs (@TexAgs) August 10, 2020
Word of the Day: Internecine.
THE HAIL MARY WORKED? When we all awoke yesterday, all signs pointed to the Big Ten canceling the football season with hopes of playing in the spring.
Then, pretty much everybody directly impacted by a potential cancelation got extremely pissed and publicly expressed that extremely pissedness.
And conference leadership seems to be listening.
Update: starting to feel like delay more than cancel in both B1G and P12. https://t.co/Lf8P6C1emM
— Ralph D. Russo (@ralphDrussoAP) August 11, 2020
Not expecting any news tonight from #B1G, per sources. More meetings in the morning, sources say. In all my years covering Big Ten, can't remember a day when the league seemed more divided (presidents vs. coaches). Certainly could see presidents opting against a full postponement
— Adam Rittenberg (@ESPNRittenberg) August 11, 2020
I'll be honest, when I saw the #WeWantToPlay Tweets rolling in from players, the messages from parents and the statements and interviews from coaches, I really didn't think it would do much.
I was clearly very wrong – which is truly a delightful turn of events, in this case. We still might not end up with a college football season, but at least it seems much more likely that we give it a try for a few more weeks.
All of this was sparked by the Big Ten’s impending move to cancel its season. More than 24 hours after first reports published from ESPN, Yahoo Sports and SI of the Big Ten’s potential plans, the conference still hasn’t made an announcement and is now gripped in an internal strife that poured out into public Monday. From high-ranking politicians to the league’s own coaches, a variety of personas strongly voiced their support for a 2020 season, some of them specifically targeting the Big Ten and commissioner Kevin Warren.
“Kevin encountered a lot more blowback today than he thought he would,” says an industry source. “It may not change their position, but it’s at least slowed the train down. It may still end up at the same destination, but this has slowed them down.”
If the Big Ten decides not to cancel the fall season tomorrow, I'll consider that a completed Hail Mary touchdown to cut into The Very Bad Virus' late lead.
Now, we're gonna need an onside kick...
LEADERSHIP PERSONIFIED. Leading a team of #teens and young adults during one of the most unique periods in modern human history can't be easy, but by all accounts, it seems like Jonathon Cooper was born to do this.
At the last workout before fall camp, captain @JonathonCooper7 gave this message to his teammates. pic.twitter.com/AkITri5AKG
— Ohio State Football (@OhioStateFB) August 10, 2020
I'd feel bad for every player if the season were canceled, but Cooper would be at the top of that heartbreak list if he doesn't get to have his last ride. That dude's worked too hard for this.
COULD GET CREATIVE. There's been some wild speculation that if the Big Ten cancels its season, Ohio State might try other avenues of playing some semblance of a season on its own.
Shit, we've even had current players and assistant coaches openly calling for the team to join the SEC if things go south (pun completely intended).
Im in!! Dial it up. https://t.co/8dySKqv5yY
— Brian Hartline (@brianhartline) August 10, 2020
It sounds insane – and it probably is! – but based on Ryan Day's comments to ESPN yesterday, maybe it's also not completely out of the question?
We need to look at every option. If thats the only option at the time, we need to explore it, see if thats something we can possibly do. Because if it is, and thats whats best for our kids, then we need to look at that and do it.
— Eleven Warriors (@11W) August 10, 2020
- Day on possibly playing without the B1G
If push comes to shove, it sounds like the Buckeyes wouldn't be the only school. Scott Frost said he thinks Nebraska would look for other options outside the Big Ten if the conference cancels its season.
Buckle up, these next few weeks are going to get wild.
SONG OF THE DAY. "Deer" by Manchester Orchestra.
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