Eight Nebraska football players have filed a lawsuit against the Big Ten on Thursday, overturning the fall football season’s league proposal and awarding damages.
The case, filed Thursday in Lancaster District Court, alleges the Big Ten is in breach of contract by failing to comply with its governing documents, including third-party athletes’ benefits. The athletes have, according to the pack, “the right to expect the Big Ten to follow its own governing documents and all its other rules, regulations and guidelines; will not make arbitrary and whimsical decisions; and if a vote on a decision is important. if annulment of all fall sports will be announced, there will be a real vote. ” of presidents and chancellors.
League Commissioner Kevin Warren told ESPN and other outlets on August 18 that a vote had actually taken place. Warren also said the decision to postpone will not be reconsidered. The Big Ten did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
“The failure of the Big Ten to hold a vote on the alleged decision to cancel the football season of the autumn of 2020 is a violation of the governing documents and the decision must be declared invalid and unenforceable,” reads the lawsuit of the players.
Garrett Snodgrass, Garrett Nelson, Ethan Piper, Noah Pola-Gates, Alante Brown, Jackson Hannah and Brant and Brig Banks have filed the lawsuit, which does not seek damages greater than $ 75,000, but states that the Big Ten’s proposal hurts the future football prospects of the players. and their ability to brand and brand themselves. The Big Ten, which postpones its fall season to August 11, is accused of basing the decision on “deficient data”, including “a study of the health effects of COVID-19 involving COVID-affected patients” “who are older and in worse physical condition than the Nebraska players.
“This lawsuit is not about money or damages, it’s about relief in real life,” Mike Flood, the players’ attorney, said in a prepared statement. “These student-athletes followed all the precautionary measures, underwent regular tests and lived according to the prescribed guidelines … for the chance to play football in September. On August 11, six days after the announcement of the autumn football schedule, a decision was made to cancel everything with vague reasoning and no explanation. “
Flood on August 18 sent a letter to the Big Ten on behalf of 20 Nebraska parents, seeking documents, data and other information about the league’s decision to postpone the fall season. The letter set a deadline of Monday to respond if further legal action was possible.
Friday, the Big Ten issued a statement on their decision.
The Big Ten Conference Council of Presidents and Chancellors overwhelmingly voted to postpone the fall sports season based on medical concerns and in the best interests of the health and safety of our student athletes. This was an important decision for our 14 member institutions and the surrounding communities. .
“We share the disappointment felt by some student-athletes and their families. However, this lawsuit has no merit and we will defend the decision to protect all student-athletes as we navigate through this global pandemic. We are actively considering options to get back to competition and look forward to doing so when it’s safe to play. “
The University of Nebraska opposes the Big Ten’s decision to postpone the fall football season and explores short-term competitive opportunities outside the league. Athletic director Bill Moos told local media that all of the Big Ten’s athletic directors preferred to continue after an fall season.
“Unfortunately, these students have no choice but to file a lawsuit against their conference,” Flood said. “Our clients need to take their claims to the courtroom to find the justice and fairness they have been denied.”
Amy Pola-Gates, the mother of Nebraska safety Noa Pola-Gates, one of the athletes whose name is on trial, said she accepted the Big Ten’s decision to postpone the season. She rearranged her pre-booked flights to Huskers games. The purpose of the lawsuit, she said, is not a reversal of the Big Ten decision, it is a legal push for more clarity on why it was postponed.
“We still need answers,” she said. “If we have to fight for them, then we have to fight for answers,” she said.
“Our main goal is actually transparency,” she said. “… Nobody was clear. Nobody was specific. We think our boys deserve that, clearly, specifically and honestly. I understand the cancellation of the season. I’m also worried about COVID-19. Of course I do. that my son gets sick. I do not want other children to get sick. These are all very valid reasons, but they do not tell us where they have their information or what data they give away. Just say, ‘Oh, because I that said, ‘and that does not work for us.’
“A letter went out and it was ignored,” Pola-Gates said. “Sometimes you just have to use other sources to get answers. If you’re ignored by the big wigs, you have to say, ‘Hey, I’m here, and cry.’ This is my cry, ‘Please listen to me.’ “
Not all Nebraska parents are worried about the Big Ten’s decision to postpone it. Kim Newsome, mother of sophomore cornerback Quinton Newsome, said there are “many” Husker parents – and other Big Ten parents – who agree with the league.
“The students are back in school and the cases are just multiplying,” Newsome said. “I would understand if my kids were sitting in a bubble. But there is no way to put 100-and-some players from these teams in a small bubble. Many of them are teenagers. They will not pay attention to ‘ the rules, they just will not do it. They need constant guidance. And they do not have constant guidance. The staff and coaches, they themselves have a life.
“Yes, I would like to see my child play, but then again, at what risk to his life, his safety, long-term effects?” sei se. “… The children, of course, want to play. But we as parents, they can be adults, but we still have to guide them and advise them on life decisions. The people who stink the most about it do not look at the big picture. They look at it now, not the last days. I want my child to live a long life. I do not want him to have health care. “
ESPN’s Heather Dinich contributed to this report.
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