Big Ten is back

0

Reversing a decision made five weeks ago, the Big Ten Conference on Wednesday announced it will play a condensed fall football schedule in 2020 after all, beginning play the weekend of Oct. 24 and concluding by Dec. 19.

After previously concluding the COVID-19 pandemic’s health risk should shelve league competition until spring, presidents and chancellors of the organization’s 14 schools, including Indiana University, considered updated medical evidence and changed course.

IU coach Tom Allen, who has had a calm and measured response to the recent months of iffiness of his team’s circumstances, greeted the news enthusiastically.

“We are beyond excited to get back on the football field,” Allen said Wednesday afternoon after being told by officials games were back on and informing the Hoosiers. The players had “definitely a different juice out there” in practice.

This loomed as a promising season for Indiana as Allen has been rebuilding the program. The Hoosiers returned many key players from a 2019 team that went 8-5.

Several other major conferences besides the Big Ten voted to stay on the sidelines because of the threat of the coronavirus, which has infected nearly 30 million people worldwide and killed approximately 201,000 in the United States.

However, such leagues as the Southeastern Conference, Atlantic Coast Conference and Big 12 are playing modified schedules, the National Football League began its season on time and Indiana High School Athletic Association teams and high schools in other states are playing.

Allen said it was difficult to watch games while his team was forbidden from competing.

“It was just frustrating,” Allen said. “It was kind of depressing.”

The main reason given for the change of heart by the Big Ten is the adoption of sophisticated daily coronavirus player testing and receiving a swift result that can send them off the field before that day’s team gathering.

“The thoroughness of that is impressive,” Allen said of the rapid testing and medical protocols adopted by the league. “Daily testing, it was a game-changer.”

Big Ten teams will play nine games, but fans will not be allowed into stadiums to watch. Indiana is scheduled to play at Michigan and Ohio State, schools that have some of the largest stadiums in the nation. Allen said that could negate home-field advantages and aid the Hoosiers.

“We don’t really care,” Allen said of no fans as long as there is a season. “No question we would like to have a stadium full of people.”

He said other coaches he talked to said of semi- or completely empty stadiums, “It kind of has that Saturday scrimmage feel.”

The league plans to pump in crowd noise to otherwise empty stadiums, “But it’s not going to be the same,” Allen said.

IU Athletic Director Scott Dolson said the school’s medical analysts played a major role making sure medical plans are safe for athletes.

“I am very confident in their recommendations and appreciate their dedication to keeping our students, coaches, fans and communities safe,” Dolson said.

Allen said the quick turnaround virus testing will start for IU today, and he hopes the team will begin 20-hour practice weeks next week.

Calling the last several months of on-and-off practice, will-they-play-or-not “a roller-coaster,” Allen said.

How teams handle the ups and downs of virus-related challenges might be a difference maker in winning games, Allen said.

“The team that is able to manage that the best, mental toughness, we’ve got to be that team,” he said.

No posts to display