Parents left without a meeting, as the pandemic has closed the Big Ten offices in Rosemont, Ill.Getty Images
About two dozen parents of Big Ten football players gathered outside the league's HQ in Rosemont, Ill., to "put their frustration and anger and confusion and pain on display" about the decision to postpone the season, but they left without a meeting as the pandemic "has closed the Big Ten offices," according to Nathan Baird of the Cleveland PLAIN DEALER. In terms of publicity, the parents "can say they achieved something." A conversation is a "reasonable request," and by "not granting one already, the Big Ten has done itself no favors." Additionally, Wednesday's "mea culpa release" of medical data that contributed to the conference's decision to postpone fall football "fell a week late and well short of the bare minimum transparency" (Cleveland PLAIN DEALER, 8/22).
OPPOSING VIEWS: USA TODAY's Nancy Armour wrote under the header, "Protesting Parents Don't Get It. The Big Ten Is Looking Out For Football Players' Health." The parents "have a point that the Big Ten did a horrible job of communicating its reasoning and the medical information that influenced it." However, the "larger issue seems to be that the parents who showed up for the protest ... don't really get the gravity of COVID-19 and its possible implications for their sons." Armour: "The Big Ten hasn't failed their sons. It's trying to keep them safe" (USA TODAY, 8/22). However, in Chicago, Teddy Greenstein wrote the parents "came to make a point and ask for dialogue." Greenstein: "Is that so wrong?" Greenstein noted he talked to several of the parents at the protest and "found them to be rational and caring." There is nothing wrong with the parents "requesting a video conference call" with Big Ten Commissioner Kevin Warren. They "should be able to ask him directly about eligibility issues and why a winter or spring season might be safer than playing in the fall" (CHICAGO TRIBUNE, 8/22).
BAD OPTICS FOR BIG TEN: In Chicago, Shannon Ryan wrote Warren was "far too quiet while parents started firing off angry letters and reporters' interview requests were perplexingly denied" after the conference's decision to postpone fall sports. It was "bad PR, but it doesn't mean it was a bad decision" (CHICAGO TRIBUNE, 8/22). In Detroit, Shawn Windsor wrote Warren's "biggest mistake" was forgetting that views of the world "aren't always unified from person to person." Warren is "merely the face for the 14 university presidents," which is to say it "wasn't his call to make." But Warren "could have followed the Pac-12's path and highlighted the medical reasoning and parents of football players would've still been protesting at Big Ten headquarters on Friday." Windsor asked of the parents' protest, "Did their stunt come across as entitled?" Windsor: "Maybe. They are parents, fighting for their children's futures. Which is understandable." Human nature is "tough to change, which is something Warren understands now more than he did a couple of weeks ago" (DETROIT FREE PRESS, 8/23).
TURNAROUND ALMOST COMPLETE: In Oklahoma City, Berry Tramel wrote the Big 12 has "not only stabilized but climbed past the Pac-12 and ACC in revenues and conference status, reaching a position of influence." The Big 12's "rising prominence has been slowed by a lack of College Football Playoff success." The conference has "qualified for four of the six playoffs, all by the Sooners, but OU has lost all four trips to the semifinals." That "must change for the Big 12 to stand even taller." But the conference that "almost self-combusted is indeed standing" (OKLAHOMAN, 8/22).
