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Every since Bucky’s 5th Quarter broke the news that the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel’s Jeff Potrykus broke the news about the Big Ten potentially looking at a schedule starting around Thanksgiving there has been, well, a lot of differing reports, voices and opinions heard on the matter.
Firstly, a bunch of national reporters confirmed what B5Q said Potrykus said:
Sources: A start date around Thanksgiving weekend is among the options the #B1G is discussing for the 2020/21 season, as @jaypo1961 first reported. Early January start still getting the most attention. Several coaches have told me a top priority is not altering fall 2021 season.
— Adam Rittenberg (@ESPNRittenberg) August 28, 2020
Sources: The Big Ten coaches and ADs are discussing multiple start dates for the season – Thanksgiving time, New Year’s Day, mid-January and post SuperBowl. Nothing has been decided or approved by the presidents or TV partners. This is early on in the process.
— Pete Thamel (@PeteThamel) August 28, 2020
Secondly, everyone was reminded that, quite frankly, the coaches and athletic directors talking about this doesn’t really mean a whole lot in the grand scheme of “decisions being made.”
A reminder, via a source: Big Ten presidents were the ones who made the decision to postpone the season. They have made clear it is a final decision. Coaches were not tasked with restarting the season at their own discretion.
— Nicole Auerbach (@NicoleAuerbach) August 28, 2020
There was also talk of some “call” on Friday morning that all of the Big Ten coaches were on where everyone was spitting out ideas.
SOURCE: Big Ten coaches are meeting on a call right now. Am told "it's a real possibility" that the Big Ten may try to reverse course and play later this fall. https://t.co/lbZJePwUbG
— Bruce Feldman (@BruceFeldmanCFB) August 28, 2020
However, it seems like not EVERYONE was invited.
Just texted with a Big Ten head coach. I asked: Did you guys meet this morning?:
— Tom Dienhart (@TomDienhart1) August 28, 2020
"If they met ... it wasn’t a scheduled meeting and I wasn’t in attendance!!
"We definitely did not meet this morning. I assume the next meeting will be next Thursday. That’s when we usually meet."
Just an FYI -- Michigan coach Jim Harbaugh was not on a Big Ten coaches call today, per two sources. The reported call may have included some coaches, of course, but he wasn't a participant today
— angelique (@chengelis) August 28, 2020
We have emailed Wisconsin to ask if Paul Chryst was on the call or if he did the “fake static noise with his mouth to signify he’s going through a tunnel” and skipped it.
A lot of people, us included, are taking a big ‘ol dump on how the B1G and Kevin Warren have handled this whole situation because they, uh, have handled it poorly but there is another side to this!
Take: the Big Ten shifting plans as they go is maybe proof they are being responsible and adjusting as information changes rather than proof they are being dumb.
— Andrew Emmer (@AndrewEmmer) August 28, 2020
Former Testudo Times writer Andrew Emmer brings up a good point. Yes the B1G has handled this terribly vis a vis the media and their public response but changing plans once new information becomes available isn’t a crazy thing to do! It’s actually pretty smart!
Anyways, Jon Bois already came up with the perfect B1G schedule so I don’t know why we are still rehashing this.
If you’re having trouble following the latest Big Ten season plans, here’s a helpful graphic.
— The Solid Verbal (@SolidVerbal) August 28, 2020
(h/t @jon_bois) pic.twitter.com/VmgsbckiYQ
We will keep you updated as new events warrant!