Randy Wade and other parents of Big Ten College football players want answers as to why the league postponed the fall football season so early. They go straight to the source.
Wade, the father of Ohio State defensive back Shaun Wade, plans to visit Big Ten headquarters in Rosemont, Illinois on Friday morning. He will fly from Chicago to Chicago on Thursday and expects other parents of the Big Ten players to join him and seek specifications from league commissioner Kevin Warren.
“How many petitions must there be for the Big Ten to really look at this?” Wade told ESPN on Tuesday. “We only have a certain amount of time to correct this, so we need to get together and show more unity and just make them uncomfortable, make them out of their shells and give us answers to some questions and hopefully back up and open things up.”
Older players from Ohio State, Iowa, Nebraska, Penn State and other schools have recently written letters to Warren asking for details on the league’s decision to postpone. Ohio State quarterback Justin State began a petition #WeWantToPlay Sunday that received more than 268,000 signatures. The Big Ten is aware of the petition and the letters, but has not yet commented publicly or met with the players as parents.
The competition on August 11 became the first Power 5 conference to postpone the fall sports season due to health concerns surrounding the coronavirus pandemic. The Pac-12 followed shortly thereafter.
“Why so early?” Wade said. “This is what we are going to talk about here. We are making progress in technology today. Why so early, why give up so quickly for the Big Ten and these dreams of these children?”
Wade said university presidents, athletic directors and coaches ultimately have a duty to support the Big Ten, adding that players and parents are the only ones who can truly bring about change. Coach of Ohio State and his staff have public support for Fields’ petition and the parent letter to the Big Ten, which promises to fight for a fall season.
Wade also said he and other parents are open to reconsidering an exemption from liability for schools, which has drawn sharp criticism from politicians and the NCAA, which bans their use. Ohio State in June had athletes sign a ‘Buckeye Pledge’ before resuming volunteer workouts.
“Okay, if that’s the only thing that concerns you, then let’s sign an exemption,” Wade said. “That’s simple. The NCAA, withdraw what they said and let us sign an exemption.”
Wade tweeted his itinerary for the trip to the Big Ten headquarters. He hopes Warren talks to the parents before he has to travel. If not, he will appear with others at Warren’s office.
See ya “First Friday morning” We have to fight and we can not fight these young men alone …. ALL BIG TO FANS STAND UP …. pic.twitter.com/qjbaQVcRSX
– Randy L Wade💯% 🐐 f @ ❌ℹLy ….. (@gslsff) August 18, 2020
“There’s a lot of power in numbers,” Wade said. “I hope we can respond and get up there and raise it and make a change, hopefully. I hope [Warren] responds for Friday and says some things that satisfy us. That’s my hope. We have to put pressure on to fight.
“I know there are more important things happening in the world right now, but this is important for these children.”
