In email, Nebraska chancellor warned Big Ten of school’s ‘precarious situation’ Spoiler Mitch Sherman LINCOLN, Neb. — Private communication between Nebraska’s leadership and Big Ten commissioner Kevin Warren in the days before the conference postponed the 2020 football season was consistent with the school’s public showing of unity and stated strong desire to play during the coronavirus pandemic. In an email obtained by The Athleticthrough an open records request, University of Nebraska-Lincoln chancellor Ronnie Green wrote to Warren on July 30, expressing concerns about the conversations in a meeting earlier that day of league administrators. “This morning’s conversation is highly concerning,” Green wrote to Warren, “in that the conference is moving in a direction which could ultimately put it in contradiction to what other conferences in the nation end up doing — similar to what we have already seen in the ACC’s plans with the same (or more aggressive) being anticipated for the SEC and BIG12. “If the BIG10 ends up not moving forward — or having a greatly reduced level of competition due to inability of conference institutions being able to compete week to week — in comparison to those peers (a number who are more geographically and physically synonymous to us), this will create a very precarious situation — in that we would have been fully prepared to and able to compete but will have missed any opportunity to develop any alternate plans.” Big Ten presidents voted on Aug. 11 to postpone the season. Green was among three members of the Big Ten Council of Presidents and Chancellors who voted against the decision. In the aftermath of the Big Ten vote, the SEC, ACC and Big 12 opted to move ahead with fall schedules. Big 12 and ACC play starts next week, with the SEC kicking off on Sept. 26. Nebraska estimates the economic impact of a canceled season to be between $80 million and $120 million in lost athletics revenue. The athletic department last month furloughed 51 employees for the final four months of this year and reduced the pay of all others on staff. Leaders in the Big Ten continue to work toward a solution on medical thresholds that would allow for a reboot of the Big Ten season. An option in November is under consideration in addition to a start in early 2021. In either scenario, the Big Ten would not compete with members of the SEC, ACC and Big 12 for spots in the College Football Playoff. Nebraska coach Scott Frost was outspoken in a news conference on Aug. 10 on his belief that the Huskers were safer within the team structure of a season than during a fall without football. Before the Big Ten announcement, Frost said Nebraska would pursue all options to play if the Big Ten canceled. After the cancellation, a news release issued by Frost, Nebraska athletic director Bill Moos, Green and university system president Ted Carter on Aug. 11 expressed disappointment in the decision. Nebraska has complied with the Big Ten ruling, but a group of eight football players last week sued the league in Lancaster County (Neb.) District Court, seeking an injunction that would reverse the Big Ten presidents’ vote and more information on how the vote was conducted. Green, in the July 30 email to Warren, requested a phone meeting later that day. Warren was agreeable in his reply to the chancellor. The commissioner, in a letter also obtained by The Athletic to Big Ten athletic directors delivered on July 30 — the same day Green emailed Warren — warned of “uncertainty” amid the pandemic. “What motivates us,” Warren wrote, “is giving the exceptionally talented young men and women in the Big Ten Conference the opportunity to fulfill their dreams and affording them the chance to compete at the highest level of intercollegiate athletics. But being a student-athlete is not just about the performance that happens on the field, it is equally about the learning and growth that occurs off it. Hard work. Singularity of focus. Grit. Resilience. Commitment to a cause larger than one’s self. “Though we remain hopeful to compete in a Conference-only schedule this fall, we cannot guarantee that will happen. We can assure you that we will be informed by guidance from our esteemed medical experts and will do our best to keep you all informed in the face of rapidly changing circumstances. However the season ultimately unfolds, these are the values that must be strengthened in this uncertain time; these are the values that have been wisely instilled within our student-athletes from a young age and these are the values that will serve these young men and women in building lives of great success and purpose.” The letter was co-signed by Dr. Chris Kratochvil, chair of the Big Ten task force for emerging infectious disease and associate vice chancellor for clinical research at the University of Nebraska. Six days later, the Big Ten released the conference-only schedule for an altered fall season. As the presidents’ decision neared, Carter, Green’s boss, who did not participate in the vote, emailed Warren on the morning of Aug. 10 to reiterate Nebraska’s position. It was later that day when Frost spoke to the media. Nebraska quarterback Adrian Martinez, defensive back Dicaprio Bootle and offensive lineman Matt Farniok also made statements on Aug. 10 about their confidence in Nebraska’s ability to stage a fall season. “(I) know you are dealing with a lot as Ronnie Green has kept me up to speed hourly,” Carter wrote to Warren. “As many student athletes are now making statements about their desire to play, I wanted you to hear from me personally that I support a Fall sports season with all the safety protocols that had been planned. I understand that there are other risks and some potential medical issues being discussed with nothing conclusive. Risk and mitigation are going to be a balance that all of us weigh. I personally believe that we have to move forward and try, otherwise we are likely to have such a negative impact on sports and college campuses as well as a way of life impacting millions. Many programs involving college athletics would likely end and athletics at every level would probably be affected permanently based on what we do as a conference. “I am happy to engage personally but know you are maintaining a very busy calendar. “You did tell me and Ronnie that you work for us. From all of us here at the University of Nebraska System, we are still supportive of a Fall Sports schedule to include football.” Warren answered on the evening of Aug. 10. “Ted: Thank you for your email. I understand where you and Ronnie stand regarding Fall sports. I look forward to talking with you live this week. Best, Kevin.” Less than 18 hours later, the Big Ten announced its decision to call off the fall season. (Photo: Nati Harnik / Associated Press)
I’ve quit, dipping, smoking, couple other bad habits and she likes cows so it was pry for the best. Other than I can’t drink bourbon anymore
I know this hurts but honestly I stopped feeling the pain when I was in school. We actually sniffed relevance and had the debacle vs Texas with the the Kunalic Kick and 1 second, we lost the red out around the world vs a bad Texas team, we lost to OU after dominating the first half in another b12 championship. Also the conf champ vs Wisconsin lmbo. Hard to get all worked up about not being able to watch us suck
Sounds to me like Ronnie Green wants to pay the football players quite a bit more than they're currently paid.
The actual navy Thomas being a far stranger troll than any of us could ever come up with was one of the best things about those chats.
oldberg i know you come here to vent but everything you’ve said about your fiancé outside of “she likes cows” has been pretty sub par. From the covid stuff to the puritanical stuff it’s a pretty drab picture. I know you are out in the sticks so there aren’t many options, but have you considered a woman for a third world country and participating in that TV show?