That did not stop the leagues critics from trying to overturn the decision anyway. Parents of players protested outside the leagues offices near Chicago, some players pursued litigation and Ryan Day, Ohio States coach, issued a pointed statement last week that said the communication from the Big Ten following the decision has been disappointing and often unclear.
The Coronavirus Outbreak
Sports and the Virus
Updated Sept. 15, 2020
Heres whats happening as the world of sports slowly comes back to life:
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- Fans can debate whether this seasons baseball records really count. But M.L.B.s official historian insists the achievements are as real as any other.
- The Superdome in New Orleans had a dystopian feel as football returned without one of its most loyal congregations of fans. Oh, and Tom Brady flopped as the Saints beat the Buccaneers.
- The United States Tennis Association has no regrets about holding a U.S. Open without fans, Roger Federer or Rafael Nadal.
He added, However, we still have an opportunity to give our young men what they have worked so hard for: a chance to safely compete for a national championship this fall.
Even with some of its football programs pausing workouts because of outbreaks, Big Ten officials convened over the weekend as speculation intensified that the league would ease its posture.
By then, the seasons fate had even become a subject of the presidential campaign. Trump, facing attacks from his Democratic rival, Joseph R. Biden Jr., who accused him of mishandling the pandemic and upending Big Ten football, called Warren on Sept. 1 to urge the league to play and to offer federal aid. On Wednesday morning, Trump called the announcement great news and declared on Twitter that it was my great honor to have helped!!! (It was not immediately clear whether the Big Ten accepted any of the presidents offers of assistance.)
All the while, teams, which were permitted to hold limited practices, kept preparing for the possibility of a season. Teams, coaches reasoned, needed to remain ready regardless of when games were allowed and especially if they were scheduled quickly.
We dont know when its going to be, Tom Allen, Indianas coach, said in an interview late last month. Thats what keeps you on your toes.
The Big Tens announcement on Wednesday applied only to football. It said plans for other fall sports, as well as winter sports like basketball and wrestling, would be announced shortly.read more
