Brian Griese Says Big Ten Made a Mistake By Cancelling the Season Early
Brian Griese says that the kids are ones who are suffering because of the decision to cancel the season early, and says he never would have been drafted or even met his wife if he hadn't been allowed to play his senior season.
“It’s that game of sliding doors that is real for seniors that are playing in college right now that are not potentially going to have an opportunity to fulfill that dream, and that’s what bothers me the most.”
I agree with Brian 100%...Taking an entire year off would be absolutely devastating to these kids and their future careers and social life, not to mention the Michigan football program itself.
September 10th, 2020 at 10:20 AM ^
Drop the persecution complex.
September 10th, 2020 at 11:32 AM ^
Actually most of this board agrees that this is a complex situation that changes as we acquire more experience and data. The University has bigger issues to solve like the current RA/GSI strike ongoing around campus along with general student body health safety measures than football. This probably applies to every college outside of the south.
Griese acts as if only seniors playing football are having their last years' of college turned upside down when in reality the class of 2020 already got screwed and now every class here on after will be delayed for graduation or not graduate on time given the pandemic. Everyone is being affected one way or another. The bottom line is I've learned just how myopic people are especially when it comes to sports like football aka entertainment.
September 10th, 2020 at 4:06 PM ^
Hey OP, or should I say Nick Meyer?
September 10th, 2020 at 4:28 PM ^
I would venture a guess that former players aren't speaking out more frequently because they recognize their limitations in analyzing the totality situation. I mean, I wouldn't walk into NASA and be like, "OK guys, I got some ideas and would like to discuss how I feel about going to Mars". It's one thing if the topic is compensating players, for example. They have a ton of insight and their personal experiences are central to the discussion. What are they going to contribute to analysis of a novel viral pandemic? Are they going to call on their experiences playing football in 1918? This is not a knock on them, I respect the former players more for taking the stance of, "I'm gonna sit this one out". The converse of that approach is becoming a snowflake who's read a few articles on facebook but likes to pretend that their opinion matters as much as expert opinions do. The world has plenty of that already.
September 10th, 2020 at 6:38 PM ^
Desmond Howard said he supports the Big 10 decision on Game Day and then he got trolled on social media by Trump’s cult. That’s why others don't speak out.
September 10th, 2020 at 8:33 AM ^
I hope the biggest donors threaten to never give another dollar unless the season is reinstated
September 10th, 2020 at 9:32 AM ^
Those bad faith arguments? Yeah, this is one of them.
September 10th, 2020 at 11:42 AM ^
You should go for a walk, I can see this has really taken it's toll on you.
How dare the B1G err on the side of caution when it comes to something so important, so crucial, so necessary as amateur sports. Human life is just not that important to you, I get it. According to you, we need to get these kids out there for our enjoyment IMMEDIATELY!!!
Cost vs Benefit
Tell me one benefit to playing that is greater than the safety of our kids? (don't tell me it's safe now, because we aren't even close to fully understanding the short & long-term effects of this virus; could take 5 years+)
September 10th, 2020 at 1:10 PM ^
This is full of logical fallacies that I don't care to entertain. However, I will say that the players and coaches want to play, and if someone doesn't want to play they can opt out.
September 10th, 2020 at 1:24 PM ^
I'm not sure you understand what a "logical fallacy" is, Benvom.
September 10th, 2020 at 4:58 PM ^
So if people want to use heroin should we legalize it for them? Just sign this waiver, you'll be fine, you won't regret this decision when you're thinking more clearly down the line.
September 10th, 2020 at 5:47 PM ^
I'm not sure comparing football to heroin is appropriate but football, on its own, is inherently dangerous. Guys on our own team have taken a hit and never been the same afterwards.
If the standard is no football until it's safe to play, that means no football in it's current format as it's extremely dangerous.
September 10th, 2020 at 9:40 PM ^
That's not the same thing, but yeah. Do you really wanna throw people in prison for nonviolent drug offenses?
September 10th, 2020 at 5:03 PM ^
One benefit is that players are under strict requirements so they are able to remain eligible to play. If they are not practicing for games they will go to parties like any other college student.
September 10th, 2020 at 6:51 PM ^
Well clearly all the pro leagues, Big 12, ACC, SEC, and high school leagues don't care about human life. The Big Ten knows so much better than everybody else.
September 10th, 2020 at 8:33 AM ^
Well if noted physician and public health expert Brian Griese says so...
September 10th, 2020 at 8:36 AM ^
Yes , he’s the lone voice on this ?
September 10th, 2020 at 8:38 AM ^
I'll take that seriously when Schlissel provides the evidence and data to support not playing when they could have voted to roll the season back a few weeks or a month. They stated they could do so when revealing the new schedule that it was built to roll back or cancel games if needed.
September 10th, 2020 at 8:58 AM ^
I agree that the Big Ten could provide a more detailed report of their decision process (although they have already telegraphed their general rationale), but it would probably be very similar to the report that the PAC already released.
September 10th, 2020 at 9:23 AM ^
At least provide a report that led to the decision. Imo, most presidents had zero intention of playing the season even when the schedule was released. So why the exercise of releasing that schedule with a built in ability to roll back the start of the season or miss games and play them later, I'll never know.
Warren stated ominously about the start of the season not happening even during the schedule release. Jmo, it wasn't like it was released with fanfare and excitement to get to big ten football....
September 10th, 2020 at 9:32 AM ^
The impression I felt was that the conference and ADs planned a schedule assuming that play could proceed - as they should do just for the sake of being prepared. They did put out numerous statements/disclaimers saying this might not even happen.
I cannot say for certain how much discussion was undertaken with the school presidents during that process, but those presidents had *much* more to deal with at that time (and still today) than just whether or not a football season will be played on time (or at all).
September 10th, 2020 at 11:48 AM ^
that would have been the smarter more pragmatic approach. but at least michigan hasn't cancelled halloween trick or treating like LA...yet.
September 10th, 2020 at 12:16 PM ^
Gonna be hard since there isn't any
September 10th, 2020 at 1:27 PM ^
Oh, please.
You would then just shift the goalposts again and find something else to be outraged about. You guys are so transparent it's laughable.
September 10th, 2020 at 9:54 AM ^
But what did the Epidemiology Nerd say?
September 10th, 2020 at 12:18 PM ^
WWBGD
September 10th, 2020 at 8:42 AM ^
Absolutely right! They should have rolled the start of the season back a week or a month. They said they built that in when revealing the new conference only schedule. So why cancel and not just roll back for more time and evidence? The team had no players test positive and rolling the start back instead of cancelling would have proven that everyone in Schembechler Hall was doing it right!
September 10th, 2020 at 10:06 AM ^
Because they were never playing in the first place. It was all farce to make people swallow it easier.
September 10th, 2020 at 11:29 AM ^
Okay, so say they waited or rolled it back. You’re still looking at at least half the conference not wanting to play and it’s September 10th. You need a couple weeks notice before you can actually start the season (Harbaugh has said Michigan would need 2 weeks).
The Presidents didn’t actually “cancel” the season. It’s postponed with a TBD start date. So they essentially did exactly what you’re asking for. It’s just not being presented that way by media. And again, that doesn’t really change the public perception at all.
September 10th, 2020 at 11:33 AM ^
It's not just about whether people in Schembechler Hall are doing everything right. I'm sure they are. I'm sure the same could be said for OSU, Penn State, and etc. across the Big Ten. Nonetheless college football games by their very nature are events with lots of people in close proximity for extended periods, so no matter how careful people are, if it's not 99% (literally?) airtight compliance then that's a recipe for a super spreader event.
Sometimes you can do everything right and still lose, and it sucks. I do feel bad for the players and coaches, and even though I obviously feel it's the less bad (as opposed to 'right') decision to nix the season, the conference leadership certainly hasn't done anyone any favors with its equivocation.
September 10th, 2020 at 8:43 AM ^
A friend of mine also said it was a mistake. And he knows a guy who said the same thing.
September 10th, 2020 at 9:41 AM ^
I could've been that guy saying that thing.
September 10th, 2020 at 8:46 AM ^
I don't know whether a ton of lives will be saved by cancelling the B1G football season, but it's statements like these that prevent an intelligent conversation from happening:
Taking an entire year off would be absolutely devastating to these kids and their future careers and social life
Uhhhh, it will most certainly not be devastating to these kids. It will be sad and inconvenient, but they'll be perfectly fine.
September 10th, 2020 at 9:07 AM ^
Uhhhh, it will most certainly not be devastating to these kids. It will be sad and inconvenient, but they'll be perfectly fine.
Both points of view are missing one key element: individual context. And your position is likely coming from a place of privilege and comfortable economic standing in society.
Imagine you're a black player with a poverty stricken upbringing and you've focused your entire life up to that point on getting an opportunity to provide for your family in the NFL. Let's say you were on the cusp of a breakout season, and everything was coming together in a way that could fundamentally alter the wellbeing of generations to come. That would be devastating. Calling that "sad and inconvenient" doesn't fully appreciate the sacrifice.
The role player who focused on getting their economics degree early, and whose parents are upper middle class and able to support their child through school and afterward in a challenging job market, may view missing out on their senior season "sad and inconvenient" on their way to a "normal" job.
I ask you this: given these two illustrative extremes, toward which are the Michigan graduating seniors likely leaning?
September 10th, 2020 at 9:14 AM ^
A lot of hypothetical in that argument. You could equally ask why the "breakout" season wouldn't happen the following year (especially since eligibility is not lost and physical training/conditioning can continue along with another year of academic coursework). The student could also get pulverized by a bus tomorrow.
Nothing in life is guaranteed except that it will eventually end - what really matters is being able to adapt.
September 10th, 2020 at 9:25 AM ^
Hypothetical was the point, actually. To be clear, I'm not arguing one way or another on whether the season should be canceled. I'm arguing against the statement that this will "certainly not" be devastating to some athletes. This will all affect people differently and I used extreme examples just to illustrate that the affects of shutting down the season is a spectrum and not absolute.
It's is both devastating or sad and inconvenient depending on who you are and your individual context.
Edit: I also lean toward the public health merits of shutting down the season, but I think it's too simplistic to justify that belief by downplaying the impact to those affected. It can very well be absolutely devastating to these athletes and the right thing to do for the greater wellbeing of society. We may never know, though.
September 10th, 2020 at 9:20 AM ^
Not sure how this became a black and / or white issue, it's a pandemic, and they have already said players have the opportunity to get another year of eligibilty, so that argument doesn't really hold water.
September 10th, 2020 at 9:26 AM ^
I agree with everything you said. This is affecting students from lower-income backgrounds significantly more than their counterparts.
But just because certain kids are devasted by the choice doesn't make it a mistake.
Example: when I was in high school my mom always yelled at me to put a coat on in the fall. If I went all October and November without wearing a coat and got the flu when bball tryouts came around so she kept me home from school did she make a mistake? Or did she do what a responsible parent would do and I made the mistake by not wearing a coat those 2 months?
Thats this entire argument. Pretty much everyone agrees that this really bad for the students. But one side of the argument believes the mistake was made months ago and the other believes it was made when they canceled football.
September 10th, 2020 at 9:35 AM ^
I appreciate this perspective. I don't know that I agree, but it's good to consider.
I guess my questions would be: if a player is good enough to make it in the NFL, does not playing this season impact that? If you're a player on the cusp of a breakout season but don't get drafted because you couldn't show your stuff, doesn't that mean another talented player did get drafted?
Edit: I see you said it would be devastating for some in terms of NFL prospects. I can agree with that.
September 10th, 2020 at 9:43 AM ^
To your questions, I think it's very nuanced and we'll never be able to know. Shutting down the season could benefit someone like Nico Collins whose measurables and flashes of talent alone could help. Or, what about the known superstar who in an alternate, season-playing, reality would've gotten a career ending injury.
Nevertheless, I appreciate your perspective, too. Am I'm doing mgoblog wrong? Have a great day.
September 10th, 2020 at 9:39 AM ^
Imagine you're a black player with a poverty stricken upbringing and you've focused your entire life up to that point on getting an opportunity to provide for your family in the NFL. Let's say you were on the cusp of a breakout season, and everything was coming together in a way that could fundamentally alter the wellbeing of generations to come.
My initial response is that our society is totally fucked if a black kid putting on a helmet and being really good at a sport could be the sole difference between his family staying in poverty or not, and we're asking him to risk exposure to a pandemic as part of that effort.
Maybe we should think about focusing our energy on fixing that issue, because there's a shit ton of horrifying, systemic issues wrapped up in that.
This isn't what you asked for - but frankly, this entire thing (waves arms) is showing us just how absolutely messed up our society is in a variety of dimensions. Whether its small businesses closing, COVID disproportionately affecting people of color, or something else...anyone thinking America isn't a failed state isn't looking hard enough.
September 10th, 2020 at 9:43 AM ^
Maybe we should think about focusing our energy on fixing that issue, because there's a shit ton of horrifying, systemic issues wrapped up in that.
You're not wrong.
September 10th, 2020 at 10:16 AM ^
I 100% agree with you about focusing on fixing 'that' issue. Yet I was crushed on another thread for calling this out. Today's reality for the inner city poor is that they don't have access to the same quality of education that the middle class has. They often are coming from single parent homes and only see crime and drugs outside their front door. They see professional athletics is their only opportunity to get out and that is a 1 in a million opportunity.
Until inner cities have the same opportunity of a quality education, this is a never ending cycle. The same argument can be made for the rural poor who are battling opioid addiction. There are a lot of social issues that need addressed but I feel that access to education would be a solid foundation to build off of.
September 10th, 2020 at 12:36 PM ^
" Today's reality for the inner city poor is that they don't have access to the same quality of education that the middle class has. "
That isn't "today's reality".
That is "all of history's reality".
September 12th, 2020 at 9:12 AM ^
Sadly, it’s not.
Inner cities used to have high quality education and excellent job opportunities. That is until people of color started to move in and the “system” took hold (redlining, most notably). White folks moved to the suburbs, factories moved to the suburbs, and redlining created the inner cities we see today.
We see it best locally in Flint and Detroit. Two cities that were incredibly prosperous at one point with some of the best education in the state.
September 10th, 2020 at 1:42 PM ^
That's more than a little disingenuous, Rob. Yes, you brought up these "issues", but your viewing lens and context were the polar opposite of what you're responding to here.
I'd really like to hear you expound on your thoughts from the previous thread, as I was one of those downvoting you for what you said yesterday. I don't believe that I misunderstood you, but would love to see otherwise.
So, what do you see as the root cause of these "social issues" that you touched on yesterday? How, in your mind, would we, and those living in those circumstances so to remedy the problem?
September 11th, 2020 at 12:04 AM ^
I'll take a pass on this Timmmaay. You are one of the biggest bullies on this board, taking every opportunity to belittle people that have different views from your own.
You don't know me, you don't know my family, and you know nothing about the work I do through my church and charity to help people through some of these social issues. You just make snap judgements of people based on a few sentences on a message board.
September 11th, 2020 at 8:11 AM ^
Then answer my questions, Rob. We both know what you meant by your previous comments a couple days ago, I'd just like to see you try to defend it.
Oh, and bully? Please. Because I readily challenge all of the nonsense that guys like you put out there daily? Because I pay enough attention to what's going on to recognize what you and others are trying to do? Even here, you're just tossing out the "bully" thing as a cheap ploy to try to change the optics. You're so dishonest, even in this little exchange. We're in an unprecedented time, and I will continue to challenge all of the bullshit that I see here. I'm almost always civil, unless dealing with a complete lunatic.
Now please answer my question above. I didn't say anything about your family, the "work" they do, your church, or anything else of the sort. You're changing the subject because you know that if you answer honestly, it won't go well.
September 11th, 2020 at 12:30 PM ^
I didn't think you would respond.