MM 9.11: Other Big Ten schools continue to push the league to reverse postponement of 2020 season

Teams across the Big Ten continue to push back against the league following the postponement of the fall football season on Aug. 11. At the time of the cancelation and following, commissioner Kevin Warren has made it clear the league aims to play a winter/spring season.

Still, from the top of the conference standings to the bottom, several schools have made it clear that sitting out this fall is not their plan.

Though the team would have loved to play a season, Maryland, on the other hand, has been supportive of the Big Ten’s decision, placing an emphasis on prioritizing the health of its student-athletes.

“The decision announced today by the Big Ten Conference was made in the best interests of the health, safety and well-being of our student-athletes,” Athletic Director Damon Evans said publicly following the cancelation. “I know that for our student-athletes, returning to campus in the Fall is synonymous with the opportunity to compete at the highest level in the sport they love. Not being able to compete this fall is disappointing for all of us, but I have every confidence they will remain resilient and strong in these trying times.”

This remains true despite President Donald Trump following his tweet that alluded the university was upset and could leave the conference.

Other political leaders have interjected as well. Six state leaders sent a letter Tuesday to Big Ten commissioner Kevin Warren Tuesday, urging him to reconsider the possibility of a fall season. States that signed the letter, written by Lee Chatfield, speaker of Michigan’s House of Representatives, included Iowa, Minnesota, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Wisconsin and Michigan.

Ohio State head coach Ryan Day issued a statement Thursday in which he said that he and the rest of the conference “still [has] an opportunity to give our young men what they worked so hard for: a chance to safely compete for a national championship this fall.”

James Franklin, head coach of Penn State football, showed his frustration with the decision, though he said that he did not entirely disagree with it.

“I got an issue with the process, and I got an issue with the timing,” Franklin told ESPN Thursday. “To be able to stand up in front of your team and parents and tell them that the season is canceled/postponed, but not have any answers as to how that affects their future and when we will be playing football and still haven’t a month later.”

Jim Harbaugh of Michigan attended a Michigan parents protest over the weekend with a number of his players. Harbaugh was vocal about the possibility of a season all summer, and continued to do since the August decision. Parents from several other schools have also protested outside of the Big Ten’s offices.

In other news

Maryland football brought fans back to when Anthony McFarland went for 298 rushing yards against Ohio State two years ago.

Maryland men’s basketball turned back the clock to highlight Lonny Baxter’s great game against Georgetown in 2001.

Maryland women’s basketball threw it back to when Kristen Confroy tied a school-record for made three pointers in a Terp victory over Northwestern.

Maryland men’s lacrosse can’t wait to be back playing in front of Terp fans.