Big Ten Presidents reportedly voted 12-2 to cancel the 2020 football season ... other reports said they didn't.
Then there were reports that the Presidents would meet again Monday night at 6:00 to provide the absolute final plan going forward — it turned out that it was a talk among conference Athletic Directors with no definitive outcome.
ESPN's Kirk Herbstreit, in fact, seemed to provide some damage control after the ACC — expected by some to follow the Big Ten's lead — insisted they'd proceed as planned with expectations of playing the season. Herbstreit tweeted the conference would postpone, not cancel, if it came to that.
As SI.com's Ross Dellenger wrote, "many expected intense pressure to be put on other conferences with the Big Ten's decision. More and more today, it's the Big Ten receiving an immense amount of pressure - from players, politicians and its own coaches - for a decision it hasn't yet announced."
Among them — Nebraska Governor Pete Ricketts.
“I believe it is absolutely something we can do here in Nebraska," he said.
What's clear ... the vast majority of college football players want to play, and they're being supported by their coaches. Michigan head coach Jim Harbaugh was among them, listing several reasons today why he felt the season would continue.
Several parents, including projected starting quarterback Dylan McCaffrey's, were appreciative and showed their support for the way U-M had cared for their kids.
"We strongly believe that denying these players the opportunity to play football this season would jeopardize their fitness, their happiness and their futures," Lisa McCaffrey wrote.
When junior defensive end Aidan Hutchinson expressed his desire to play, his father, former Michigan All-American and ER doctor Chris Hutchinson, backed him up.
"I support Aidan, not only as his father but as an ER doc who has lived through some of the worst Covid in the country," he tweeted. "I support them playing as the protocols at the University of Michigan have proven to work. I feel my son is in the safest program and conference in the country."
Monday night, several sources indicated Big Ten schools are informing their student-athletes and their parents that spring football is a very real possibility. Michigan practiced today and continues to prepare as though there will be a season this fall.
If there isn't, however, it's looking more and more likely that spring football will mean more than just practice in 2021. And don't count out fall. An Ohio State source told Cleveland.com the Buckeyes would not vote to cancel football in 2020, and head coach Ryan Day fired a shot across the bow when asked what measures he'd take if the conference opted out.
Nebraska's Scott Frost, too, said his program would explore other possibilities, as well .
But there's plenty still to consider, including a recent report about potential heart issues among COVID survivors.
As of now, though, the Big Ten decision is on hold, and coaches continue to fight for their players' wishes to play.
"While we all agree there is much uncertainty, the best decision right now isn't to cancel the season," Penn State's James Franklin said in a release. "I implore the Big Ten to consider all possibilities to preserve college football this fall."
ESPN reported late Monday night that league Presidents were expected to vote Tuesday morning at 10:30 a.m. whether to postpone the season until Sept. 26 or opt for a spring season.
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