Gene Smith has his eyes on the future.
About 20 minutes after Big Ten commissioner Kevin Warren issued an open letter to the public to clarify that the postponement of the fall sports season 2020 ‘will not be revisited’, Smith also took his message directly to the public.
The athletic director of Ohio State wrote a lengthy message Wednesday night saying he and President Kristina M. Johnson are “actively planning” on how to play all of the fall sports – including football – in the winter or spring. He said he considered the proposal a ‘temporary delay’ rather than a cancellation.
“Dr. Johnson has focused our preparation on the ability to bring at least some of our fall sports back to practice and competition by the end of the year,” Smith wrote.
Here is Smith’s full open letter:
On behalf of Ohio State University and President-elect Kristina M. Johnson, I would like to share our plans to get our student-athletes back into competition as soon as possible.
We thank our student-athletes, coaches, physicians, athletic trainers, strength and fitness coaches, staff and equipment staff, and all the support staff who worked tirelessly – especially during the months of June and July – to help create an environment for us to train and exercise.
We thank our student-athletes for their response to our request to follow the protocols that were in place to contribute to their safety. Because of their commitment to following the protocols, we felt comfortable practicing. The leadership from within our teams has been remarkable.
We thank all the parents who were instrumental in helping us encourage their daughters and sons to respond to our protocol request, by giving us guidance and feedback.
We thank our fans for their passion and support. This has been a very difficult time for Buckeye Nation, and we want you all to know that we hear your voices and we share your passion. We want to play the game. We will have our student-athletes back in the league as soon as possible.
I want to thank Dr. Johnson for her exceptional support. She is 100% attuned to Coach Day and me because we have moved through the decision making process.
We greatly benefit from her keen insight and understanding of intercollegiate athletics as a manager and a former student athlete.
The university has implemented robust health and safety measures, including physical distance, face mask and hygiene requirements in our campuses and classrooms, testing and contact tracking protocols, wellness resources, and more.
We can all help our student-athletes compete back as quickly as possible by doing our part: No social gatherings of more than 10 people, wearing our masks, washing our hands and keeping at least 6 feet apart.
Together as Buckeyes we can do this. It will require that all our students, faculties and staff do their part, along with the wider community, stay safe and healthy and combat the spread of the virus. We are optimistic that the Buckeyes will do what we always do, step up, collaborate and get the job done.
Ohio State University is confident that we have the safety protocols and strict protection measures in place for our student-athletes to practice and return immediately to competition.
Although a decision has been made by the presidents of the Big Ten Conference to postpone the fall season, we consider this a temporary delay, and Drs. Johnson has focused our preparation on the ability to bring back at least some of our fall sports to practice and compete at the end of the year. We are actively planning for the winter and spring seasons for all sports, including the return of football.
As Director of Athletics at a Big Ten Institution, I will always have respect for our conference, as it provides an excellent platform for our student-athletes to pursue the championship experience. The health and safety of all our students, coaches and support staff is our highest priority. The conference established the Big Ten Return to Competition Task Force to develop plans for models for winter and spring. I would like to thank Dr Johnson for her participation in this task force.
We are focused on creating an environment for our student-athletes to continue this fall with a quality educational experience at Ohio State. All services will continue to be available, including academic support, strength and conditioning training, sports psychology assistance and skills instruction, to name a few.
We hope that our medical professionals will continue to learn more about COVID-19 and its effects, our society in general will respond to requests to implement measures / protocols that contribute to a safe and healthy environment for all, and our research scientists will be successful in their quest to develop a vaccine.
We thank Buckeyes everywhere for their exceptional support.
There are no specifications yet for spring or winter football explained by the Big Ten. However, it is now clearer than what point in the past eight days since the cancellation that Warren, Smith, Johnson and the rest of the conference are past the fall and have put all their focus on how to play the fall seasons early 2021 .
Ryan Day has expressed interest in a Big Ten football schedule starting in the first week of January, and Purdue coach Jeff Brohm has published a slate of games starting in early February. The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reported Tuesday that the Big Ten is aiming for a season that begins in January.
“As an athletics director at a Big Ten institution, I will always respect our conference because it provides an excellent platform for our student-athletes to pursue the championship experience,” Smith said in his letter. “The health and safety of all our students, coaches and support staff is our top priority. The conference has established the Big Ten Return to Competition Task Force to develop plans for models for winter and spring competition. I want to thank Dr. Johnson for her participation in this task force. ”
