More Players Speak Up, but Others Are Still in 'Wonder' Mode

Beyond question, college presidents' top priority is the overall well-being of their students.

Their second priority would be the overall well-being of their schools.

The bitch these days is trying to sort out how to get those done at the same time or if that's even possible when staring at the Covid-19 pandemic.

In some cases, they really could be riding into the valley of the shadow of death.

 

While they and their administrative staffs -- including athletic directors -- are pondering their options, we're finally starting to hear from students who are in a direct line of the pandemic's fire.

• The Pac-12 was stunned by how organized the response was by a significant number of their football players, and now
• The Big Ten has added to the chorus, demanding a similar list of sweeping changes before they'll feel safe about taking the field.

It's odds-on those conferences are gonna pull the plug on the 2020 season. The focus now is whether the other three Power 5's will join them.

 

It's become clear where a good deal of coaches in those loops stand. They wanna play, and dudes have been making their point in one form or another, neither of which is a favorable look for them.

In at least one overt instance, Nebraska's making it known that if the Big Ten does cash it in this fall, it won't be a unanimous vote.

There are also rumblings from the ACC and SEC that some players are forming groups to advocate in favor of playing the 2020 season, saying it'll be safer for them on campus than on their own. Those who've had the college experience might tend to think they have a point ...

 

Ironically, it's still not determined how much the players' opinions figure into a conference's decision.

It's more than likely gonna come down to the L-word.

 

Poring over medical assessments is one thing. Reasearching the legal issues if a player gets sick, suffers a long-term condition like myocarditis, or even dies from the virus or complications thereof is quite another.

Furthermore, the cost of prevention, testing, and treatment won't be cheap, either. Combine that with certain losses due to the absence of fans, and the risks may be compounded if a conference does try to salvage at least some revenue by deciding to play.

If player groups from the ACC, SEC, and/or Big XII come out in favor of playing, the two issues raised will be

• Will their support be as deep as the Pac-12 and Big Ten groups have proven to be, and
• How many players in those conferences will remain silent for fear of becoming alienated?

What's more, what happens if the predicted second wave of the virus hits this fall?

 

Not so amazingly, then, the college football world finds itself yet again in a situation where not everyone is on the same page. Not even the players -- organized or otherwise -- can agree.

Kinda like the country at large is approaching the pandemic.

Which still means Covid-19 is the favorite in this game.