It’s been clear since early August that Ohio State quarterback Justin Fields wants to play football in 2020. Now he is putting proverbial pen on paper to try to make this happen. The preseason candidate Heisman Trophy has made a petition asking that the Big Ten immediately reinstate football for the fall.
“We, the players of the Big Ten, together with the fans and supporters of college football, ask that the Big Ten Conference immediately restart the 2020 football season,” reads the petition. Allow Big Ten players / teams to make their own choice whether to play or exclude this fall season. Allow Big Ten players / teams who choose to play a fall season, without penalty or relegation to do. “
The petition had nearly 40,000 signatures with effect from 1 pm ET Sunday.
The Big Ten postponed their season to next spring in a landmark decision Tuesday that was quickly followed by the Pac-12. Although the Big Ten was not the first conference to host football for a later date – the MAC and Mountain West also pulled the plug on fall football, along with numerous other conferences in lower divisions – it was by far the biggest domino to to fall for college football in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic. In their announcement, the Big Ten mentioned “several factors” for the delay, including myocarditis, which is the inflammation of the heart muscle. At least 15 Big Ten players are left with myocarditis after contracting COVID-19, a high-ranking source within the Big Ten, told Dennis Dodd of CBS Sports.
Despite his stance, the Big Ten received massive pushbacks before and after their announcement to slow down football, especially from Nebraska and coach Scott Frost.
“We will continue to consult with medical experts and evaluate the situation as it appears,” read a statement from Nebraska. “We hope it will be possible for our student athletes to have the opportunity to compete.”
Nebraska has publicly stated that it remains committed to the Big Ten, however.
In addition, statements from parents of players in Iowa, Ohio State and Penn State have asked the Big Ten to reconsider his decision with a lack of transparency in the process. The Big Ten announced its 10-game, only conference schedule from a week before the conference resumed the 2020 season.
There is no denying the massive voice to play football. “Do you want” is not a problem. Whether college football can be played in the fall is another story. The Big Ten and Pac-12, among many others, felt it could not. It would take a major breakthrough on the medical front tomorrow for those decision-makers to think about turning back course, not about a series of strong word letters.
