Eight University of Nebraska football players are suing the Big Ten over the conference’s decision not to have a season this fall.
“This is a case in which a powerful collegiate athletics conference claims that its student athletes have no rights,” the lawsuit says. “Although its decision significantly and directly affects the rights and opportunities of student athletes at its member institutions, the Big Ten has called for transparency and refuses to provide documents that support their claim that a vote was taken or that a good trial was held. follow. “
Big Ten Commissioner Kevin Warren said on August 19 that the “vote by the Big Ten Council of Presidents and Chancellors was overwhelming in support of postponing fall sports and will not be reconsidered.”
But the lawsuit alleges that a vote did not actually take place, citing remarks by Michigan State University President Samuel Stanley Jr. and President of the University of Minnesota, Joan Gabel.
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Michigan Live reported last week that Stanley told reporters that the conference was united in its decision, but it was “more a consensus than a vote.”
The Star Tribune reported that Gabel also said there was no vote last week.
‘We did not vote for ourselves. It’s a deliberative process where we came to a decision together, but I absolutely support the decision we are going to make, ‘Gabel said after all.
The players – Garrett Snodgrass, Garrett Nelson, Ethan Piper, Noah Pola Gates, Alante Brown, Brant Banks, Brig Banks and Jackson Hannah – are asking for no more than $ 75,000 in damages and restoration for the season.
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The Big Ten responded Thursday that conference leaders are holding a vote and making the decision based on expert medical advice.
“We share the disappointment felt by some student-athletes and their families,” the conference said in a statement received by ESPN. “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 return to competition and look forward to doing so when it is safe to to play. “
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The Big Ten originally released on August 5 a new football schedule that included 10 games. Six days later, on August 11, the conference announced the cancellation or postponement of the entire season.
The Pac-12 was the only other Power 5 conference to cancel the football season this fall. The other three – the SEC, ACC and Big 12 – are all moving forward with changing seasons.
