Penn State coach James Franklin on Wednesday expressed frustration over the communication process that went into the Big Ten’s decision to postpone the fall football season.
Speaking at a video conference with reporters, Franklin said he struggled to provide answers to his players and their parents regarding the reasoning or timing for the postponement. The Big Ten on August 11 announced their decision to postpone, just six days after the announcement of their schedule for the fall football season.
“I do not necessarily have a problem with the decision,” Franklin said, “but I have a problem with the process and I have a problem with the timing. It was challenging to stand up for my team and for my parents to stand up and have no answers to their questions. “
Franklin later added: “I was not in the room. But I do know when you make a decision of this magnitude, which affects so many people on such a significant level, perhaps the most important decision in the history of ‘e Big Ten, [that] it was not made in doubt, it was not vague. There is no way we made that decision without everyone knowing what the decision was. “
Franklin is among several Big Ten coaches who have expressed frustration over a potential lack of detail surrounding the postponement. Several groups of Big Ten parents have written letters to Commissioner Kevin Warren asking for specifications and a reversal of the proposal.
Randy Wade, the father of defensive back Shaun Wade, Ohio State, is organizing a peaceful meeting of Big Ten parents on Friday morning at league head in Rosemont, Illinois. Older players from Ohio State, Iowa, Nebraska, Michigan and possibly other schools are expected to attend. The Big Ten is aware of the letters and a petition to play by quarterback Justin Fields, Ohio State, who has received more than 280,000 signatures since Wednesday. But the league has not commented since Aug. 11.
“I don’t think we’re going to go back to an autumn season,” said Franklin, who supports parents and players about their desire to play. “I don’t think the petitions and the votes allow us to go back and say, ‘We’ll play this fall.’ I wish that was the case, but I do not see it happening. “
Franklin notes that Penn State and other programs had everything possible to play a season safely. Penn State’s latest round of COVID-19 tests, which included players, coaches and staff, revealed zero positive results.
Franklin said the Big Ten generally communicates well with his football coaches, but did not achieve much “when things started to swing in the wrong direction.”
“When the decision was actually made, it put a lot of people on hold,” he said. “At that moment we felt like things were going pretty well, it felt like we could do this thing to work, and things changed quickly. … That’s where the frustration came, the decision came before anyone could get there. to come on board and understand it so you can stand up for your team. “
Franklin also expressed concern about next steps for FBS teams with delayed fall seasons, including a plan by the NCAA Football Supervision Commission to allow 12 hours a week of activities. The NCAA Division I Council is expected to approve the plan later Wednesday.
“I totally disagree with the 12 hours,” Franklin said. “That does not make sense that other teams will do a season, and we will only work 12 hours with our boys. You have voted from basically all the different conferences, and now, the only people who are in the best interests of ‘ the Big Ten vote, the people are from the Big Ten. “
Franklin thinks the decision to postpone the fall season has a long-term potential impact on recruiting, eligibility, roster sizes and other areas. He said a delayed season should start more in the winter than in the spring, to minimize the impact on the fall 2021 season. Ryan Day coach Ohio Day has proposed a model to start competition in early January.
“Everything we decide, we have to think about, how do we get back to what we would normally consider for the [fall 2021] season and move forward, “Franklin said. We need to make sure that it does not affect us that we are moving forward, whether it is now a spring season or that this is a winter season. “
.
