Big Ten Waffles After Public Outcry Including Trump Tweet: Might Not Cancel Season After All

A headline-grabbing story originating in the Detroit Free Press shocked the college and sports world on Monday by reporting the Big Ten is set on cancelling the fall football season on coronavirus concerns. “It’s done,” a high-ranking source in the Big Ten was cited in the report.

“Multiple sources said early Monday morning that presidents voted 12-2 to not play this fall, though the Big Ten said Monday afternoon no official vote had taken place,” according to the report, which was enough to drive headlines declaring the season was canceled. 

However, an avalanche of pushback and public outry, from some players, coaches, and even the president of the United States, left the decision anything but final. “The student-athletes have been working too hard for their season to be canceled,” Trump tweeted in response alongside the hashtag #WeWantToPlay, with a shared tweet by Clemson quarterback Trevor Lawrence.

The student-athletes have been working too hard for their season to be cancelled. #WeWantToPlay https://t.co/lI3CCKZ4ID

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) August 10, 2020

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One college sports commentator noted: “A wild and wacky Monday ended without clarity from the Big Ten about a football season. Instead, the wait continues on a decision to play this fall, while pressure builds from some leagues and coaches.”

The immediate public pushback appears to have worked at at least delayed things, and reports now say the season might not be cancelled after all, with more high level Big Ten meetings set for Tuesday morning.

Not expecting any news tonight from #B1G, per sources. More meetings in the morning, sources say. In all my years covering Big Ten, can’t remember a day when the league seemed more divided (presidents vs. coaches). Certainly could see presidents opting against a full postponement

— Adam Rittenberg (@ESPNRittenberg) August 11, 2020

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Thus far the Ivy League, the Pac-12, and the Mid-American Conference, have all canceled their seasons.

While the majority of college presidents appear to stand on the side of cancellation for the sake of safety amid the pandemic, there are said to be other options being considered, like mere postponement of the game schedule. 

Whatever happens, severe controversy is already ensured, given as SI describes:

“All of this was sparked by the Big Ten’s impending move to cancel its season. More than 24 hours after first reports published from ESPN, Yahoo Sports and SI of the Big Ten’s potential plans, the conference still hasn’t made an announcement and is now gripped in an internal strife that poured out into public Monday.”

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— TexAgs (@TexAgs) August 10, 2020

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And further: “From high-ranking politicians to the league’s own coaches, a variety of personas strongly voiced their support for a 2020 season, some of them specifically targeting the Big Ten and commissioner Kevin Warren.”