The Big Ten 'Circus' Now Has Coaches Vs. Presidents and Possibility of Fall Play

As a Wisconsin alum, the institutional incompetence of the Big Ten is anguishing. As a blogger, the institutional incompetence of the Big Ten is a gift that keeps on giving. This morning, we wrote about how they are hiding from the Nebraska player lawsuit and FOIA requests, but they can't hide forever. Now, a bevy of reporting indicates that they may play this Fall after all.

Recall, that in an open letter written just nine days ago, Big Ten commissioner Kevin Warren said, "The vote by the Big Ten Council of Presidents and Chancellors (COP/C) was overwhelmingly in support of postponing fall sports and will not be revisited."

Guess what: they're revisiting it!

First, Jeff Potrykus of the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel reported that the conference was considering returning to football play the week of Thanksgiving (which, for the entire history of the holiday, has landed in the Fall).

Previously, the Big Ten had an astoundingly stupid plan to play in the winter and spring, during peak flu season, indoors, subjecting players to 18+ games of wear and tear on their bodies in a calendar year, and without the best players who would invariably skip the season for the Draft. Everyone trumpeting this idea was rightfully mocked.

Now the floodgates are open as the college football media confirms Potrykus's report but there's also talk of a coaches insurrection seeking to push the start of the season even sooner:

This feels like a battle between late September / early October on the coaches' side, and Thanksgiving on the conference's. Meanwhile, good luck to the chancellors and presidents who have cravenly remained anonymous, while cumulatively collecting $13.6 million in taxpayer money, continuing to skirt responsibility if they find themselves at war with their football coaches.

Earlier today, Outkick founder Clay Travis broke down the politics of the Big Ten presidents and commissioner Kevin Warren.