MADISON – Although Wisconsin and all other Big Ten groups are scheduled to open a pre-season football camp next week, continuous paintings on COVID-19 testing protocols can delay this procedure and, in all likelihood, the start of the season.
Big Ten’s athletics won a card on Thursday describing the league’s plans. Commissioner Kevin Warren and Chris Kratochvil, chairman of the Working Group of the Big Ten on Emerging Infectious Diseases, signed the letter.
According to the letter, first informed through elevenwarriors.com:
“The pandemic has made it difficult to provide data as soon as we want, but we must be rigorous and transparent. We’re not, and we can’t, go to pre-season camp until we’re sure we can do it safely. and that will depend, in part, on the evidence.
“Once we have everything in position to run our test protocols well, adding the right amount of guaranteed tests for all fall sports, we’ll be able to tell if the pre-season camp will start as planned recently.
“We look forward to making this resolution in the next five days.”
Five members of the convention (Ohio State, Michigan State, Indiana, Maryland, and Rutgers) were forced to suspend practice sessions due to testing. Michigan State and Rutgers have implemented quarantines throughout the team.
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The Atlantic Coast Conference on Thursday approved a 10-game convention schedule, as well as an unconventional game, to begin on September 7. Notre Dame’s plan to play an ACC calendar in 2020 and compete for the league title.
The SEC followed the ACC by approving a 10-game schedule for the conference, which begins on September 26.
On Friday, Pacific 12 announced a 10-game convention schedule, which is scheduled to begin on September 26. The league name game is scheduled for December 19, on the top-ranked team’s website.
The Big 12 has announced their plans, but league groups have won exemptions to play non-conference matches as of August 29.
Big Ten officials have indicated in the letter to the league’s athletic administrators that they ensure that autumn sports will take up position in 2020:
“We remain hopeful of competing this fall in men’s and women’s cross-country, box hockey, football, men’s and women’s football and women’s volleyball, knowing that we will have to work in an attempt to face the demanding situations presented by COVID-19.
“If we, as a Conference, are not safe to compete in the fall of 2020, we will not, as will our resolution in March 2020 to cancel the men’s basketball tournament in Indianapolis.
“Our final resolution will be based on the recommendation of medical experts and consultation with appropriate institutional leaders, student-athletes, coaches and federal, state and local authorities.”