What we've picked up today on the quest for Big Ten football this fall ... plus, a note on a few former Wolverines and their latest venture ...
Starting with the latest from behind the scenes efforts to get the Big Ten to allow football this fall ...
As we reported yesterday, six university presidents would have to change their minds in order for it to proceed this fall (with Oct. 10 being the target date). Only three — Ohio State, Nebraska and Iowa leaders — voted to play the first time. Michigan President Mark Schlissel has been opposed, but several have said he's received plenty of heat from the highest profile U-M boosters. These are donors with names on buildings, and they've made it clear to Schlissel how important football is to them (in addition, of course, to U-M's stellar academic reputation).
Will it do any good if it comes down to another vote? Only if the promises of rapid testing, etc., continue on the right path. Yesterday's developments at the national level "didn't help," one source said, but the Big Ten is well aware of (and stung by) the backlash it's received for its seemingly premature decision to shut down on August 11. Efforts by attorneys to FOIA communications between school presidents, etc., have also been in the spotlight, and that's added to the pressure.
There are egos involved, but if the Big Ten does reverse course this fall, several have said they have one thing to fall back on ... that they've always called it a "postponement" rather than a cancellation, and they've always planned on proceeding when safe. As more and more evidence piles up that it's just as safe (if not safer) than, say, allowing kids back on campus, there becomes more and more pressure to continue.
It still seems like a long shot to some close to it, but the coaches are on board. Most programs have continued to practice in some form or another, and only a few (some believe Michigan State and Indiana among them) have said they'd need to know soon to get back into weekly practice mode. Rivals.com's Mike Farrell spoke to coaches at several of the conference programs recently, however, and he said they are fired up at the prospect of beginning in October and being part of the College Football Playoff after all.
There is a coordinated effort that includes U-M boosters, some school presidents, etc. to get back to playing as soon as possible, and it's gained traction. Today, coach Jim Harbaugh's brother John, head coach of the Baltimore Ravens, said this at the end of one of his Zoom calls:
"Free the Big 10. Let's go. Let's go play some football. Michigan had 0 positive tests in August. Those guys want to play and for anybody who wants to opt out, they can."
Will it change anything? It doesn't seem likely, but expect the pressure to continue to mount.
****
Over the years of covering different teams and numerous players, you can't help but reflect on some of the "greats" — not just outstanding athletes like the Charles Woodsons, Trey Burkes, etc., but also the incredible people. There are folks you'd buy stock in if it were possible, knowing they were going to be successful.
Former hoops captain Zack Novak, for example (2008-12), was such an overachiever that you knew he'd be good at whatever he did, and he's proven it by succeeding in business in Chicago. Caris LeVert was such a hard working, down-to-earth kid that it was hard not seeing him succeed in the NBA. It seemed to be his destiny after overcoming two significant injuries that robbed him of much of his last two years.
And then there's David Merritt. The former Michigan walk-on turned captain helped lead the Wolverines to the NCAA Tournament in 2009 for the first time since 1986, and what he's done since is no surprise. He's started different businesses, first a clothing store in Ann Arbor in which much of the proceeds went to charity, and he's been active in a number of other ventures since. Among them — he's now teaching a virtual class on leadership and coaching with former U-M head coach John Beilein, the guy who gave him his shot at Michigan.
As we noted several weeks ago, Beilein will be part of the Big Ten Network's analyst team this year when college hoops returns, breaking down film of Big Ten teams the way Urban Meyer does on the football side. It's a role for which he's perfectly suited. For Merritt, teaching is the next step on his journey, and it seems only a matter of time before more and more people are reading about his exploits.
This won't be a surprise to anyone in the media. One player in 20 years has ever sent us a heartfelt "thank you" note for our coverage of the team he captained. It's still kept at home in a folder with the letters we've received from a variety of subjects over the years, and it's pretty amazing ... several of our colleagues received them, too.
It was also extremely sincere. You can see it in him in any of his interviews during his Michigan days, and in this meeting Merritt had with Beilein a few years ago.
It seems only fitting these guys are teaming up again.
Starting with the latest from behind the scenes efforts to get the Big Ten to allow football this fall ...
As we reported yesterday, six university presidents would have to change their minds in order for it to proceed this fall (with Oct. 10 being the target date). Only three — Ohio State, Nebraska and Iowa leaders — voted to play the first time. Michigan President Mark Schlissel has been opposed, but several have said he's received plenty of heat from the highest profile U-M boosters. These are donors with names on buildings, and they've made it clear to Schlissel how important football is to them (in addition, of course, to U-M's stellar academic reputation).
Will it do any good if it comes down to another vote? Only if the promises of rapid testing, etc., continue on the right path. Yesterday's developments at the national level "didn't help," one source said, but the Big Ten is well aware of (and stung by) the backlash it's received for its seemingly premature decision to shut down on August 11. Efforts by attorneys to FOIA communications between school presidents, etc., have also been in the spotlight, and that's added to the pressure.
There are egos involved, but if the Big Ten does reverse course this fall, several have said they have one thing to fall back on ... that they've always called it a "postponement" rather than a cancellation, and they've always planned on proceeding when safe. As more and more evidence piles up that it's just as safe (if not safer) than, say, allowing kids back on campus, there becomes more and more pressure to continue.
It still seems like a long shot to some close to it, but the coaches are on board. Most programs have continued to practice in some form or another, and only a few (some believe Michigan State and Indiana among them) have said they'd need to know soon to get back into weekly practice mode. Rivals.com's Mike Farrell spoke to coaches at several of the conference programs recently, however, and he said they are fired up at the prospect of beginning in October and being part of the College Football Playoff after all.
There is a coordinated effort that includes U-M boosters, some school presidents, etc. to get back to playing as soon as possible, and it's gained traction. Today, coach Jim Harbaugh's brother John, head coach of the Baltimore Ravens, said this at the end of one of his Zoom calls:
"Free the Big 10. Let's go. Let's go play some football. Michigan had 0 positive tests in August. Those guys want to play and for anybody who wants to opt out, they can."
Will it change anything? It doesn't seem likely, but expect the pressure to continue to mount.
****
Over the years of covering different teams and numerous players, you can't help but reflect on some of the "greats" — not just outstanding athletes like the Charles Woodsons, Trey Burkes, etc., but also the incredible people. There are folks you'd buy stock in if it were possible, knowing they were going to be successful.
Former hoops captain Zack Novak, for example (2008-12), was such an overachiever that you knew he'd be good at whatever he did, and he's proven it by succeeding in business in Chicago. Caris LeVert was such a hard working, down-to-earth kid that it was hard not seeing him succeed in the NBA. It seemed to be his destiny after overcoming two significant injuries that robbed him of much of his last two years.
And then there's David Merritt. The former Michigan walk-on turned captain helped lead the Wolverines to the NCAA Tournament in 2009 for the first time since 1986, and what he's done since is no surprise. He's started different businesses, first a clothing store in Ann Arbor in which much of the proceeds went to charity, and he's been active in a number of other ventures since. Among them — he's now teaching a virtual class on leadership and coaching with former U-M head coach John Beilein, the guy who gave him his shot at Michigan.
As we noted several weeks ago, Beilein will be part of the Big Ten Network's analyst team this year when college hoops returns, breaking down film of Big Ten teams the way Urban Meyer does on the football side. It's a role for which he's perfectly suited. For Merritt, teaching is the next step on his journey, and it seems only a matter of time before more and more people are reading about his exploits.
This won't be a surprise to anyone in the media. One player in 20 years has ever sent us a heartfelt "thank you" note for our coverage of the team he captained. It's still kept at home in a folder with the letters we've received from a variety of subjects over the years, and it's pretty amazing ... several of our colleagues received them, too.
It was also extremely sincere. You can see it in him in any of his interviews during his Michigan days, and in this meeting Merritt had with Beilein a few years ago.
It seems only fitting these guys are teaming up again.
