School leader says Big Ten football on hold until questions answered
(AP) — The University of Wisconsin chancellor said Tuesday that Big Ten football will remain on hold until there are answers to questions about COVID-19 testing and tracing, along with possible long-term heart issues related to the coronavirus.
Chancellor Rebecca Blank said once the Big Ten university leaders have their concerns addressed “we will try to plan a delayed season.”
A month after postponing games, conference leaders are considering playing a fall season after all. There were weekend meetings on a plan to begin play as soon as mid-October.
Blank, appearing at a congressional hearing on
compensation for college athletes, was asked by Sen. Tim Kaine (D-Va.)
about the Big Ten’s decision last month and whether the conference might
reverse course.
“There were several main reasons for that,” Blank
said. “One was that we were uncertain we could do the level of testing
and contact tracing that we needed to keep athletes safe. Secondly,
there was this growing evidence about heart-related myocarditis and that
evidence was uncertain and it wasn’t clear what it means and we wanted
to know more. There were a few other minor reasons.”
She would not predict which way a vote to return to play would go.
“Decisions
within the Big Ten are largely majority based decisions, but I’ll be
honest, we almost always decide everything by consensus. We very rarely
take votes,” Blank said.
A court filing earlier this month
disclosed that Big Ten presidents and chancellors voted 11-3 in favor of
postponing all fall sports. Iowa, Nebraska and Ohio State voted against
the move.
When the next decision comes from the Big Ten was unclear, though KETV in Omaha posted video
Tuesday of University of Nebraska President Ted Carter saying, “We’re
getting ready to announce the Huskers and Big Ten football tonight,”
before he spoke at an unrelated news conference.
Carter later told KLKN in Lincoln that statement was taken out of context.
“When there is any news to share or confirm regarding any Big Ten board decision, it will be announced by the Big Ten,” University of Nebraska spokeswoman Deb Fiddelke said.