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UNC put all athletics on pause for a day Tuesday as the Corona virus spiked on campus.
Garrison Brooks and Armando Bacot both tweeted out their feelings about UNC’s sudden shift to online classes only and the status of athletes in general with Bacot readily admitting he’s contradicting himself. Who can blame him? It’s confusing to anyone.
For whatever reason, Duke’s cases are less than UNC’s and NC State’s.
And in a related note, as you probably know the Big Ten has postponed all fall sports. As you may also have heard, some athletes and their parents are really unhappy about that.
So the next step is that an attorney with a reputation as a gadfly has sent out a FOIA to several Big Ten schools and has cast a big net. His options are limited but he can still embarrass the conference.
Remember the other day when Nebraska briefly threatened to go it alone if the Big Ten didn't play football? And the conference said go ahead and try it and see what happens?
Times change.
Apparently a group of Big Ten schools, led by unhappy Ohio State, is considering a mini schedule with home-and-home games and no Big Ten title game.
The group seems to include Iowa, Nebraska (surprise) and Penn State are all in and the group would like to get Wisconsin and Michigan.
However, Michigan governor Gretchen Whitmer is strongly opposed to the idea which makes the Wolverines unlikely.
In light of all of that, it’ll be interesting to see if football drives this attempt to limit Whitmer’s powers.
Also worth noting: perhaps trying to get ahead of the breakaway faction of the conference, Big Ten Commissioner Kevin Warren issued a statement reiterating the decision to hold off on fall sports, saying the decision “would not be revisited.” It’s a lengthy statement which appeals to fans, players and parents to understand and accept the Big Ten’s decision.