A Nebraska players’ organization filed a lawsuit Thursday asking a jury to force the Big Ten Conference to re-establish an fall season.
The Lancaster County District Court lawsuit argues, among other things, that players lose the ability to develop, be exposed to a prospective career, and will not be able to market themselves to eventually capitalize on income opportunities by names, symbols, and similarities.
Players need a court order that would prevent the Big Ten from exhausting their plan to boost the football season in the spring. The whistleblowers are Brant and Brig Banks, Alante Brown, Noa Pola-Gates, Jackson Hannah, Garrett Nelson, Ethan Piper and Garrett Snodgrass.
“This lawsuit is not about cash or damage, it’s a genuine relief,” said Mike Flood, the players’ lawyer.
The Big Ten did not respond to a request for comment.
Big Ten announced on August 11 that it would move its football season from autumn to spring due to fitness hazards related to the coronavirus pandemic. The Pac-12 and the minor leagues followed suit.
According to the trial, the Big Ten’s decision-making procedure was “imperfect and ambiguous” and questioned the fact that the League’s Council of Presidents and Chancellors had officially voted on the decision. The medical studies used to make the decision, according to the trial, were irrelevant. athletes of university age and did not take into account protective measures in schools.
“Unfortunately, those student-athletes still have no recourse to register a complaint that opposes their conference,” Flood said. “The presidents and rectors of these universities have taken conflicting positions on whether there has been a vote, and have largely failed in the positions they have taken.
Flood also represents a Nebraska football parents’ organization that last week sought documents and other documents similar to the Big Ten decision. Flood, a former Nebraska Legislature spokesman, owns five radio stations that broadcast Cornhuskers football matches through the Husker Sports Network.
Last week, Flood sent a letter to Commissioner Kevin Warren requesting documents related to the votes cast, the school’s vote, the minutes of the meetings, and all audio and video recordings and transcripts of the voting meetings. He also sought copies of studies, clinical knowledge, and medical data or revised recommendations through the presidents.
Flood had threatened a federal lawsuit if the fabrics were handed over to him.
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