Why the Big 12 is going forward with football this fall despite coronavirus pandemic
Big 12 commissioner Bob Bowlsby didn’t take long to respond to a question as to why the league is going forward with fall sports amid the coronavirus pandemic.
“The biggest argument is that nobody has told us that it’s poorly advised to go forward and do what we are doing,” Bowlsby said during an hour-long news conference Wednesday.
“If we get to the place where our doctors and scientists say, ‘You know what? You guys have got two wheels off the tracks and you’re headed for a train wreck ... we will pivot that day.’ If it’s during camp, it’s during camp. If it’s during October, it’s during October. If it’s the week before our championship game, that’s when it is.
“Making adjustments on the fly are going to be a part of this. Our medical professionals have said, ‘Go forward, move slowly, make small adjustments, constantly be vigilant about changes in the environment. That’s what we’re listening to.’”
With that being said, the Big 12 is joining the SEC and ACC as Power Five conferences forging ahead for football this fall. The Big Ten and Pac-12 shut down fall sports on Tuesday, while the Big 12 opted to move forward following a two-plus hour conference call with the league’s brass.
“In the end, I think we all have to do what’s best for our individual conferences,” Bowlsby said.
TCU chancellor Victor Boschini is the chairman of the Big 12’s board of directors and echoed what Bowlsby told reporters — the league’s board feels safe going forward with its season for now. It’s what most student-athletes and coaches expressed a desire to do during meetings with conference officials.
“Our student-athletes want to compete, and it is the Board’s collective opinion that sports can be conducted safely and in concert with the best interests of their well-being,” Boschini said in a statement. “We remain vigilant in monitoring the trends and effects of COVID-19 as we learn more about the virus. If at any point our scientists and doctors conclude that our institutions cannot provide a safe and appropriate environment for our participants, we will change course.”
In formally announcing plans to play this fall, the Big 12 revealed its revised “plus-one” schedule where schools will play one home non-conference game followed by a nine-game conference season starting Sept. 26.
The Big 12 championship game is scheduled for Dec. 12 at AT&T Stadium, although that date could be pushed back to Dec. 19.
The conference also announced enhanced COVID-19 protocols, including three tests a week for players and staff (likely Sunday, Wednesday and Friday for football programs) and additional protocols after positive tests including an EKG, troponin blood test, echocardiogram and cardiac MRI.
Every non-conference opponent in football must adhere to similar testing protocols. Soccer and volleyball programs will play conference-only schedules for their respective regular seasons with postseason play to be determined.
If student-athletes do not feel safe or comfortable playing in the fall, every school is allowing them to opt out while maintaining their scholarship.
Still, the return of fall sports next month is far from certain. The professional leagues that have had the most success in returning to play such as the NBA, WNBA and NHL were in an all-out bubble. MLB, on the other hand, has stumbled out of the gates without a bubble with the postponement of multiple games and series.
College sports cannot create a bubble, Bowlsby said, with college students. He acknowledged there would be “bumpy spots” as the Big 12 attempted to play fall sports, but is hopeful it can be successful.
“If anybody is around that tells you that they can accurately forecast what’s going to happen with the virus, they’re delusional,” Bowlsby said. “Even the best scientific minds are unable to forecast with precision. But having acknowledged that, I feel good about where we are simply because we have good practices in place.
“I feel good about the decision going forward. I believe our board feels good about it. And, most importantly, we have some clarity for our coaches and our student athletes. There’s a difference between clarity and certainty. I don’t think we have certainty in this environment, but we have been able to get some clarity.”
This story was originally published August 12, 2020 at 2:33 PM.
