The Patriot League became the second Division 1 conference to cancel fall sports on Monday, but a key condition of its decision could help Rutgers and the Big Ten play amid the coronavirus pandemic.
The United States Naval and Military Academies will be free to pursue the competition, according to the Patriot League announcement, due to the unique nature of the institutions. Big Ten Commissioner Kevin Warren should take advantage and immediately offer Army and Navy affiliate membership at the conference for the fall (and more time if needed), as it would give the Big Ten a better chance to play, specifically in sports without income.
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The Big Ten’s plans for a conference-only soccer schedule made headlines, but the decision applies to all fall sports. Given the geographic expansion of the league and the varying number of conference members who play every non-soccer sport, restricting the league’s game hours will lead to financial and logistical challenges that, frankly, will eventually lead to many To suggest shutting down Olympic sports entirely to avoid headaches and focus on keeping football money training on the tracks.
Adding Army and Navy would help alleviate those problems. The Big Ten would bring two world-class institutions that have the ability to carry out appropriate COVID-19 test protocols. It would also be filling key gaps within its footprint.
The addition of service academies would give the league two additional men’s soccer programs (raising the league count to 11) and the men’s cross country teams (to 14). It would also give the Big Ten 16 women’s soccer, volleyball, and women’s cross country teams, allowing the conference to be divided into four geographically intelligent quads to reduce travel costs and allow for substantial schedules:
Quad 1: Army, Maryland, Navy, Rutgers.
Quad 2: Michigan, State of Michigan, State of Ohio, State of Pennsylvania.
Quad 3: Illinois, Indiana, Northwest, Purdue.
Quad 4: Iowa, Minnesota, Nebraska, Wisconsin.
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Soccer would probably not be affected. Navy is a member of the American Athletic Conference and Army is an independent who should still be able to come up with a calendar. But if that changed, the Black Knights could be helped in a way similar to the ACC’s reported willingness to work with Notre Dame. Some head coaches may not like it, but if it helps the seasons and cash flow play, then so be it.
Adding the Army and Navy to the Big Ten as full-fledged permanent members would be good business for the Big Ten, but it’s unlikely to appeal to academies in the long term as the world returns to normal. But for a fall season (we hope)? It makes perfect sense to all parties.
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James Kratch can be contacted at [email protected].
