Nebraskans Sense Role In Fall Football Revival

NEBRASKA CITY - The Detroit News says the Big Ten's decision Wednesday to start the football season this fall is due to new information that has been developed about the pandemic, but there is a sense in Nebraska that local reaction played an important role.

The Big Ten announced on Aug. 11 that the season would be moved to the spring, but public reaction calling on the conference to reconsider came in the form of letters, player petitions, protests, lawsuits and even a tweet from President Donald Trump.

President Trump followed up today with a tweet saying it is a great honor to have been able to help.

 

In a statement, Michigan President Mark Schlissel thanked millions of fans worldwide for their patience and called their support of Big 10 teams "inspiring."

Although Big Ten officials say the decision was based  solely on scientific information, social media in Nebraska suggests a feeling that Nebraskans' reaction was factor.

A statement Wednesday from U.S. Sen. Ben Sasse noted that the Nebraska senator was the first federal official to urge the Big Ten to play fall football.

Sasse: “The Big Ten’s presidents, chancellors, and the ‘return to competition task force' deserve credit for reevaluating and concluding that we can responsibly bring back football. We need to keep working to beat this nasty virus, but today’s decision is a good signpost that, with prudent practices and rigorous testing regimes, we can keep moving back toward normal.”

State Sen. Julie Slama of Peru was among those writing a letter to the Big Ten Conference asking for transparency and a renewal of the fall football season.

Her letter has signatures from 27 lawmakers, including second district State Sen. Robert Clements.

The Big Ten  revelation that the season had been postponed on an 11-3 vote, came after eight Nebraska players, represented by Mike Flood and other attorneys, filed a lawsuit in Lancaster County District Court.

The Nebraska Attorney General’s Office also sent a letter to the Big Ten and commissioner Kevin Warren saying the conference appears to be out of compliance with the state’s Nonprofit Corporation Act.

There were also reports around the conference of monetary losses if the season were not held. Nebraska has reported the football program raises $59 million a year and Wisconsin reported that it could lose $100 million if the season is postponed.

The Detroit News is reporting that fans will not be allowed in stadiums, other than family members of players.