While I think that a " Conference Only " schedule this season is good for Bettors ,
I'm sure gonna miss some of those " Interconference " rivalry games . 
GLTA
The Harder you work , the Luckier you'll get.
Wow .. that's a big one...
I wouldn't expect the individual player covid-risk-sit-out trend to impact the game too broadly..... End of the day 99.9% of players aren't a sure fire high round draft picks that can afford to skip out on college or an NFL shot or a better NFL draft status, etc .. You mentioned in my protest thread what happens when joe schmo Wash St players tried this move and sounds like they got a rather unwanted lesson in equal treatment ... On that note I would expect we see a number of players claim Covid risk out of convenience for other underlying issues like a desire to xfer or take a redshirt or the myriad of 'personal issues' and would expect phony sports media will be all too happy to go along with a covid opt out story ...
I think there will be many that opt out. Remember it's not what you/I think of their abilities - NFL draft spot....but what their agent and family is telling them. Look at the number of guys that leave early, and don't get drafted. Think about it...if / when they begin...guys will get sick and SCARED. Mama is gonna be telling them to come home. Agents will say "get out now, I'll front you the cash - don't worry" ha. Others not draft eligible too. Players will choose 'the least path of resistance'...using C-19 as an excuse to leave. Plus, imagine the liability if a coach threatened a guy if he leaves...he stays...then gets sick or worse.
The BIG 2020 football schedule has just been released. They will start their season on 9 /3 ,
and conclude their regular season on 11 / 21. The BIG Championship will be held on 12 / 5 .
GLTA 
The harder you work , the Luckier you'll get
Whoo-hoooo!! Hope it stays intact.
See NW doesn't visit MSU until week #3. Minny, even without top WR should roll at East Lansing.
Willie-T really likes his running QB's so maybe the writing was on the wall for Robinson since he goes backward more often than forward and Tronti more of the gamer back variety ... might cut down the massive TFL #s they had last year... I'm kinda optimistic Taggert can pull the offense together quickly with a really loaded backfield ....
Add to the List : Michigan State , starting DE Jacub Panasiuk will opt out this season.
Minny schedule sets up great early on ... @Mich St and homers vs Mich and Iowa .... could be a BIG 3-0 before trouble heading to camp randall, lincoln and homer with Indy... I think the losses are really piling up now with the 2 WR's gone (best in program history?), really great RB with Smith and 4 NFL picks plus 2 other best players on D gone ... Bell and Ibrahim and a humongous OL will still be tough and sounds like they found a stud with Mafe on D.... but might be a few studs short this year on both sides of the ball ... The prospect of taking a few big scalps early might overvalue them in a hurry because no way they'll be better than LY ..
Wisco hooked up big drawing Rutgers, Mich, Indy, Purdue and avoiding PSU/OSU... @Iowa/@Mich late could be spoilers ...
NU with PSU/Wisco to start off then a very managable 7 games before closeout homer with Michigan... Seems like they'll be written off for the division early on this year and then uphill battle vs that very kind Wisco schedule ... But wouldn't surprise me if Wisco struggles offensively in a few games and we get NU or some other surprise contender for the West late in the year...
Where's OSU's toughest stretch... hmm... @PSU, Bye then Iowa homer to close it out?..... Mich Homer sandwiched between @Mich St and @MD looks like a gift ... they coulda made the bread in that sandwich much more interesting if they were moving the rivalry off the last week...
Indy maybe the toughest start w/ @Wisco, PSU, Ill, @OSU, @Minn, Michigan...... Woof!
Maryland maybe toughest down the stretch w/ Wisco, @PSU, @Indy, OSU, @Mich, Minny... Double Woof!!!
Fingers crossed, looks like alotta fun!
Bridge , In the words of Lee Corso " Not so fast , my friend "
BIG players have formed their own version of the Unity Group
and published their own list of demands.
We'll see how this works out.
The Harder you work , the Luckier you'll get .
Looks like the NCAA is looking to take a pause on a previous judgement against them
on benefits permissable to student athletes to the Supreme Court .
This may make it tougher to get the season started.
The Harder you work , the Luckier you'll get
BIG10 PLAYER DEMANDS;
“We are deeply disappointed with the lack of leadership demonstrated by the NCAA with respect to player safety during the COVID-19 pandemic,” the proposal states. “We believe that the NCAA must — on its own and through collaboration with the conference — devise a comprehensive plan to ensure the safety and well-being of players leading up to and during the upcoming fall season.”
The proposal also called for a third-party to administer all COVID-19 tests and enforce all coronavirus related health and safety standards.
In terms of testing, the proposal calls for at least two weekly tests as well as testing within 24 hours of each competition. It also calls for contact-tracing protocols and that everyone who comes in contact with the athletes to be tested beforehand.
As for player assurances, the proposal calls for a ban on all COVID-19 liability waivers, such as the “Buckeye Pledge.” The players also called for an automatic medical redshirt for players who miss games due to the virus and preservation of their academic eligibility and scholarships if they decide to opt out of the season or if the season is canceled.
Third party testing, I believe, is already mandated. The rest VERY reasonable, IMO.
At least they're not asking for a percentage of revenue ................ Yet. 
Much as I hate to, as a Michigan fan, gonna say this. Ohio State made it clear early on that the Buckeye Pledge was NOT a waiver. Other BIG teams have had players sign waivers, ILL I believe, not sure who else. This whole list of player demands reeks of Jim Harbaugh. Could be wrong, let's see if Buckeye Players say something.
Ah, Ohio State fan site Eleven Warriors has a much more comprehensive list of demands. Apparently the site I got the previous list was lacking! disclaimer; Not a Mich. site!
The full list of demands:
The statement does not specify which players authored the proposal, though Michigan cornerback Hunter Reynolds and Minnesota cornerback Benjamin St-Juste are listed as media contacts for the group. Ohio State quarterback Justin Fields told reporters during a conference call on Tuesday that there had been ongoing conversations among Big Ten players about a potential unity statement, and Lettermen Row's Tim May reported that 59 Ohio State players responded to College Athlete Unity's solicitations of interest, though the players and what their responses entailed were not specified.
“I’m really glad to see different athletes around the country try to come together to have a voice for college athletes,” Fields said. “I’m glad to see that. A few of the guys have talked about getting our own thing together in the Big Ten so we can have a voice like they’re doing. I definitely agree with what they’re doing.”
IT DIDN'T PASTE!!!! Give me a min. to get it up!
The list of demands!
Third-party, approved by players, to administer COVID testing and to enforce all COVID-19 health and safety standards
Sufficient penalties for noncompliance
Mandate for athletics personnel to report suspected violations
Prevention and Safety Protocols
Ensure all athletes have up-to-date information about the risks that COVID-19 may pose to their personal health, the health of their families and the health of their communities
Adherence to WHO and CDC guidance for sporting events and compliance with all federal, state, and local statutes and regulations
Safety standards that are appropriate for each sport
Social distancing requirements and mandatory mask-wearing in and around athletic facilities by coaches, staff, players, vendors, press, and visitors
Minimum cleaning and sanitation protocols for all uniforms, equipment, and athletic facilities, including visitor locker rooms
Temperature checks for anyone entering any athletic facility
Testing, Contact Tracing and Related Procedures
Contact-tracing protocols for anyone who comes into contact with college athletes and team personnel who test positive
Testing of everyone who comes into contact with college athletes, including coaches, trainers, medical staff, nutrition staff, referees, media, etc.
In-season testing of all of the above three days per week
Testing twice per week with an FDA-approved test with less than 1% false negatives
Additionally, testing on the day of competition (or within 24 hours of competition for each team that can be quarantined) with an FDA-approved test with less than 5% false negatives, with results delivered at least two hours before competition
Immediate quarantine of any person who tests positive or exhibits symptoms
Quarantine rules for college athletes who test positive, and protocols for their return to practice and competition
Objective criteria for shutting down seasons should the pandemic take a turn for the worse or if teams experience significant outbreaks
Player Assurances
Whistleblower protections for athletics personnel and college athletes reporting a suspected violation
Ban the use of COVID-19 liability waivers
Automatic medical redshirt for any player who misses any competitions due to a positive test or a mandatory quarantine due to contact tracing
Preserve athletic eligibility, scholarship, and roster spot for any player who opts out of athletic participation or is unable to play more than 40% of their scheduled season due to COVID-19 or season postponement/cancellation
Complimentary access to the Big Ten Network for athletes’ family members
Hazard-Related Economic Support
Coverage for all out-of-pocket medical expenses related to COVID-19 (both short-term and long-term) incurred by active college athletes
Scholarship protections (including room, board and stipend) in the event that the season is canceled due to COVID-19
An adjustment to the cost-of-living stipend to account for the increase in personal expenses related to limited access that players have to facilities
Reimbursement for stipends that were reduced during the summer
A bit more lengthy list of demands. The first list I retrieved from "The Lantern" and Ohio State campus paper.
The demands still look doable, sensible.
The reason I thought Harbaugh was involved was mentioning "Buckeye Pledge" specifically, turns out they didn't, and preserving scholarships, something Harbaugh has already promised. Michigan player Hunter Reynolds one of the leaders here, sooooo Harbaugh probably helped.
Yeah agree on sensibility of the BIG 10 situation unless the plan is to make it a stepping stone to another hostile takeover .... You'd think the conferences might have contemplated that players would eventually demand firm commitments covering all the major and minor 'what if's' of Covid lol... Woulda been much less risky to set the table on that early instead of waiting for the unity demands to come flooding in and hope they're reasonable... and really really hope you're only dealing with one of these unity groups because you can imagine how many sharks are circling these conferences right now and they're not all hungry for enhanced covid testing protocols lol...
Just the skep in my but I kinda think this coulda been more/less already planned out with the conference ahead of time .. they did stick to very reasonable sounding covid processes and really directing their 'demand' at the NCAA to work with the conference not calling out the conference itself... so idk .. woulda been slick if they actually got out ahead of the sharks with this one ....
But if they are really getting blindsided then I'd think all these 'reasonable sounding demands' are looking like a stepping stone .. maybe to get them signed up for all the non-compliance lawsuits. Not to mention really would put this group first in line for maybe a real negotiation next season!!!! 
Established in 1995,
Hot Forum Topics
