The recent postponement of the football season led to speculation that Ohio State might be able to schedule games in September that were not a part of the Big 10 schedule.
There had been speculation that OSU could form a one-year alignment with another league such as the Big 12 or that other Big 10 institutions who were interested in playing a fall schedule such as Penn State, Nebraska and Michigan, could play some sort of fall schedule.
Those hopes ended today with the following statement from OSU Director of Athletics Gene Smith.
“Ohio State has continued its communications with the Big Ten Conference office regarding a scenario to still play fall football games, but has now determined that this would not be an allowable opportunity for us to move toward.
“We are 100 percent focused on supporting the health and safety and academic success of our student-athletes, and on working with the Big Ten to develop a spring plan for our sports as expeditiously as possible.”
Earlier today OSU Head Football Coach Ryan Day expressed hope that if no fall football could be played that a spring schedule could be implemented for play in the months of January, February and March. Now it looks as though that is the absolute best that can be hoped for.
When the lefties appointed these two medical and student health committees, you had to know this was going to happen. When the case trends and mortality trends started going down, they had to play the “long term” health card. With frequent testing and constantly improving therapies, there is extremely small probability of anyone developing myocarditis from COVID.
But our very weak commissioner and a few lefty Presidents, common sense was out the window. The lefties achieved their primary objective of slowing the economic recovery and increasing the morose mood of our country.And refusing to release the vote count is not going to hold up. After all, 13 of then14 schools
are state universities. I can accept the decision to scrap the season but the way it happened was shameful and full of deceit.Not that I’m bitter but I hope the commissioner and his henchmen burn in Hell . . . Soon!
How many college age athletes have been ill, hospitalized or even died from COVID? How many professional athletes have been ill, hospitalized or died from COVID? Noticing I’m not asking how many contracted it!) Are these athletes better off scattered in communities filled with COVID or in a secure environment with top flight doctors and medical care? BTW in 10/12 B1G states, HS sports are taking place. True, we can live w/o a season of FB, and I do take COVID seriously, but many COVID restrictions make absolutely no sense at all. Could all players have face shields and gloves that are consistently sanitized? Could athletes with preexisting conditions be asked not to participate? Sports are more then entertainment, they provide thousands of jobs, assist students from all backgrounds, distribute billions of dollars and provide funding in most colleges that expand across all coed sports and campus life. Just some random thoughts from a frustrated fan.
From the Dispatch, “Hainline said he knows of about 12 myocarditis cases among college athletes.”
You can be certain that you will not know the answers to how many and if anyone has had a serious case… unless that person releases that information.
ESPN is reporting that FSU players are claiming that they aren’t getting tested once a week like they were expecting, and apparently players who test positive are told to keep it to their selves. If this is true… Clemson is screwed because the ACC will be shut down within the first couple weeks of their season.
Thank you. Myocarditis Cases? I can see listing stats w/o listing names. Once again thanks for the quick factual response.
Myocarditis is the heart condition that Covid can cause, which if a player exercises heavily there is a chance they can have a heart attack. It was one of the major concerns of the B1G and Pac12… and I think now the other conferences are testing all their players for it.
But if they know to look for myocarditis (which they do) they can treat it. It’s not unlike a concussion protocol. If they know to look for linger effects, they can act accordingly.
The Blue Jackets have had no problems so far in the NHL playoffs. No cases of Covid 19, no cases of myocarditis. They exercise pretty heavily to me, especially in that 5 overtime game they just played. Seth Jones and Zach Werenski logged over 60 minutes of ice team apiece and the others on the team skated well past 40 minutes each, as well.
Myocarditis, though a serious illness, seems to be a copout excuse. The NHL teams in the playoffs are proving this.
The inane comments of so many responders just shows how selfish they. They don’t care if 18-21 year olds rusk their lives as long as the complainers can have their own entertainment. After, their pleasure is more important than the health and suffering of others. They truly are small minded people.
Anyone who thinks the other conferences are going to be able to play a season… just look at the MLB… When you don’t bubble, you have big problems. Could you imagine if the MLB was full contact like football? Now any time one player who played in a game tests positive days after a game, both teams will be forced to quarantine for 2 weeks. Teams like OSU, Clemson, Bama, ect… the top programs with the most money can create bubble like environments for THEIR players. But one game against a team who doesn’t have the resources to create a good bubble environment, will most likely result in a step back for the program that’s actually able to bubble. I don’t expect the conferences who are going to play to be able to play past October. I just wish the top programs would revolt against the smaller programs and create a one time league with only schools that can properly bubble. We could have some absolutely epic games week in and week out if we did that.
I still believe that the B1G “postponed” so that teams like OSU, PSU, UM, and NE couldn’t break off and play in another league. It almost makes me want OSU to explore leaving the B1G.
BTW, I’m a firm believer in the dangers of Covid. But I also don’t believe giving into the fear of the unknown. There is a middle ground to be found, too bad the B1G stopped looking.
Odds of spring football are very very low and Day and Smith know it. For Day it’s a way to try convince his team to hang together vs. transfer or start training for the combine. Don’t blame him – it’s really all he can do at this point. Gene Smith’s motivations are try to get players, parents and fans to overlook the fact he doesn’t have the guts to use the enormous leverage OSU has in the BIG10 to at least get the ok to play outside the conference this fall. I feel bad for Day and the players for being beholden to Smith and his talk a good game but deliver very little approach.
We need new leadership at the top of the big ten and non-wusses to fight to play..screw this…..the medical officials for 3 of the other power 5 seem to be ok with playing…this is so messed up on so many levels..no reason to not play
@Todd.
The “non-wuss” thing to do is maintain status quo. The Big10, PAC10, MAC have taken bold steps to help curb the spread of Covid19. I find it ironic that the SEC, ACC, and Big12 institutions are located in the part of the country currently suffering the most from Covid19. Maybe it’s that sort of irrational thinking that has led to the current health crisis in the South.
There was a guy on the message board a few months ago – James Mills – who compared Covid19 to stubbing a toe. How wrong that statement was, but, unfortunately it continues to prevail. Sports are entertainment and we can all find a different Saturday diversion for the next three months.
@Norman… oh you must mean the status quo of this not being very deadly whatsoever for younger people? Do you want to cancel every season coming up because of flu is deadlier for college-age students than this is?… you give me some actual evidence that the coronavirus is deadlier for the population that is 70 and younger and then maybe I’ll start listening …until then this is all politically correct BS… I… people need to be wise around nursing homes Etc but the rest of the general population does not need to shut down for this crap.. so again Norman since you like the challenge basically everything I say on here please come up with some evidence to show me that this virus is deadlier for most of the population than it is the flu… Because it’s not especially for college-age and younger people … there’s a reason the Ohio State president and athletic director along with Ryan Day and the vast majority of players iand their families want to play this season …so sorry ,but your thoughts don’t make much sense…. I’m not expecting to see any actual scientific fact backing up the assertion got the flu is less deadly than this for most people because there isn’t any
@ James A Mills
The onus is on you to refute the published and reviewed science.
This spring season crap needs to stop. Who in the hell is going to sit in the stadium in the middle of January? That will be some quality football for sure. And then youre going to turn around and play a regular fall season? Right. Im convinced this is just a scam by the university to keep as much money in their pocket as possible from season ticket holders and anyone else who has already shelled out money for their 2020 tickets. Im a season ticket holder and I have seen no information yet telling me how to get my money back especially since they duped me into opting in for the season after they released their bogus schedule just one week ago. What a joke. I wonder how justin fields is going to look throwing passes in tuscaloosa this fall.
I don’t think anyone truly believed OSU was going to go against the Big 10 and go out on their own to play in the fall. I really wish they would take sports away from the colleges and have the pro’s sponsor minor league teams. It would solve alot of problems, like players being paid, kids going to college just to get to the pro’s, etc.
Just stop already. Its a lost season. On to 2021 with whatever is left of OSU football. We should still be a top 20-25 program after deflections and recruiting decommits.