BIG 10 Pac-12 Conferences Cancel Fall Sports
Written by Andrew Goldberg
After weeks of speculation, rumors and retractions, the news that many college sports fans were dreading finally arrived on Tuesday. The Big 10 and Pac-12 conferences formally announced the postponement of all fall sports, with the potential to restart football in the spring. The announcement comes as a crushing blow to the players, fans and coaches who were holding out for a potential plan of action with the season just a month away.
As of Tuesday, the remaining Power 5 conferences (The Big 12, ACC, and SEC) have yet to pull the plug, with the commissioners of each conference expressing their interest in exploring the BIG 10 and PAC-12’s reasoning. With no broader governing body overseeing college football, each individual conference has the power to make their own decisions regarding the upcoming season.
The cancellation of college football has been a divisive topic in the media with players, sportswriters and even politicians speaking out for what they believe in. Two of the most prominent voices in the movement to continue play have come from star quarterbacks Trevor Lawrence of Clemson and Justin Fields of Ohio State. The two faced off in the college football playoff semi-finals last season and are both considered top prospects in the coming NFL draft.
“Let’s work together to create a situation where we can play the game that all of us love. Not divide and argue. There is a way forward”, tweeted Lawrence, punctuating the statement with the hashtag “We Want to Play.”
Since Lawrence’s tweet on August 9 many others have since spread the hashtag including President Trump, who voiced his support for the players efforts on Twitter. The movement was not enough to swing the BIG 10 or PAC-12, however, whose leaders cited the findings from medical experts advising against play.
There are many challenges to contend with if the remaining conferences hope to complete a full season. Schools will have to find a way to test players consistently and prevent outbreaks when positive tests do occur. A vast network of contact tracers will need to be deployed to prevent
spread to the greater student body. And University leaders will have to reckon with their potential liability for hospitalization and heart problems linked to Covid-19.
Yet despite these obstacles there are still many communities to holding onto hope for football in the coming months, no matter what form it may take. With two power conferences opting out, all eyes will now focus on the remaining holdouts to make their next move. HustleTV we love our sports.