ROSEMONT, Ill. – A group of parents of Big Ten footballers protested outside headquarters Friday to ask for more information about what went on in the Aug.’s league. 11 to postpone the fall season.
About 25 parents attended the meeting, which was organized by Randy Wade, father of defensive back Shaun Wade, Ohio State. The group consisted mostly of parents from Ohio State and Iowa, although Illinois and Wisconsin were also represented. Many parents wore their sons’ jackets and T-shirts with team logos; some carried signs reading “Let them play!” and “We want to play!”
The Big Ten office remained closed Friday. Commissioner Kevin Warren and members of the conference staff worked remotely during the coronavirus pandemic.
Warren wrote an open letter on Wednesday further explaining the Big Ten’s decision to postpone, after several parent groups from league teams asked for details. He wrote that Big Ten presidents and chancellors “overwhelmingly support” the proposal, acknowledged the disappointment and confirmed that the decision would not be reconsidered.
Several parents who attended Friday’s protest said Warren’s letter did not provide sufficient information about what the postponement asked, which came six days after the league released its fall football schedule.
“I’m just a dad, and I just want to spark the conversation,” said Wade, who flew to Chicago from Jacksonville, Florida on Thursday night. “We do not have to play in the fall. We want to play in the fall. We want to do everything we can to play in the fall. We do not like the way the decision was made by the presidents and not know if they voted, did not vote.We do not like that.Our children wear Big Ten on every jersey.
“We represent the Big Ten.”
Wade wore a T-shirt with “Just a Dad” on the front and “Parents want communication transparency and safe football” on the back. He began his remarks with a moment of 17 seconds of silence to honor the nearly 170,000 Americans who died from COVID-19.
Randy Wade and other Big Ten parents begin the “Let’s Play!” singing outside the league office. pic.twitter.com/kw6ixhkWcc
– Adam Rittenberg (@ESPNRittenberg) 21 August 2020
Wade also led the group in a “Let’s Play!” singing.
“We as parents want some transparency about what’s going on, and we should, because those are our children,” Wade said. “Does Kevin Warren think that when they go to school, they’ve grown up and we do not matter anymore? … The whole nation will see how the Big Ten reacts when parents have a writing. That’s what matters most.”
Wade did not immediately reach out to Warren, but he said he wants the commissioner to meet with the presidents of each Big Ten parent association and answer questions about the postponement and next steps.
“The open letter was just a bump of refurbishment and smoke-blowing and, ‘Hey, I have to say something because there’s so much pressure, so I’ll throw this out and hope the wolves leave the gate,’ ‘ said Brad Beetham, father of Illinois newborn quarterback Josh Beetham. “I’m not saying the season can go. I’m not saying the SEC and the other Power 5s will go their season, but why jump off the bridge so early and so definitely double down every now and then and say we’re not going to look at this again ? “
Otherwise, frustration erupted over the timing of the Big Ten’s decision and the limited information provided by the league and its presidents as to why they were postponing it. Beetham notes that the Pac-12, which also postponed its fall season on August 11, released a detailed document the same day describing its reason.
“We just want transparency and we want information,” said Kyle Borland, father of Ohio State linebacker Tuf Borland and a former Wisconsin linebacker. “Clearly, the university presidents were not on the same wavelength as university doctors and medical staff, athletic departments and coaches. That is difficult for the Big Ten.
“The Big Ten are better than that. They need to be better than that.”
Added Jay Kallenberger, father of Iowa offensive lineman Mark Kallenberger: “Who is the medical team that makes the decisions? What were the decisions? Who voted the schools yes or no? We want to know that.”
A group of parents of football in Nebraska wrote to Warren on Thursday through attorney Michael Flood, requesting that the league release specifications on the decision on draft, additional data and medical information, and other documents as a lawsuit against. Iowa parents wrote to the Big Ten presidents and chancellors on Friday with a list of questions regarding the decision to postpone.
Gail Koerner, whose son Jack plays defensively back for Iowa, said she and other parents felt “really comfortable” with the Iowa medical team and protocols toward COVID-19. Beetham said his son was tested up to five times a week, with PCR tests and with new detection tests becoming more available.
“I would ask [Warren] to explain in detail what data they trusted to make the decision, and then I would really like to understand exactly what the process was in evaluating that data and came to a decision, “said Koerner, who traveled from Des Moines, Iowa, to attend the protest. “Both of those things have been … unclear is an understatement.”
Wade and other parents who attended Friday’s protest said their views could change if all of the university’s football conferences are postponed. They also want more information about a possible winter or spring season in the Big Ten and how it affects eligibility, rosters, the NFL draft and other topics. Shaun Wade ranks No. 6 on Mel Kiper’s Big Board for the N21 draft.
Warren announced on Wednesday that the Big Ten had returned to the task force of the competition to challenge football and other fall sports in the winter or spring.
“Who really knows if they’ll be able to play in the spring?” said Dornaj Davis (Wisconsin father who turns Julius Davis back), who traveled from his home in Menomonee Falls, Wisconsin, to attend the protest. “You could pull out the carpet like they just did. We could say, ‘OK, we’ll play in the spring.’ And the next thing you know, the time is coming and, ‘No, we’re not playing, nothing’s. changed. ‘ “
Julius Davis had COVID-19 earlier this year, but showed no symptoms and was recovered after being quarantined. Dornaj Davis said Julius probably contracted the virus while spending time with friends before going to campus for football activities.
“Just because you do not do sports does not mean you can not catch COVID,” said Dornaj Davis. “You’ll be more sensitive to catching it out with your friends outside because they are not in the protocol you are with your team. I just do not get it.”
Wade said Big Ten parents will continue to speak out and try to get answers from Warren as well as from university presidents and chancellors.
“If we get transparency and know who said no and who said yes, maybe we should protest on our own campuses,” Wade said. “But we need to know that.”
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