MAC ON SPORTS: BIG TEN EXTENDS SUSPENSION OF ACTIVITIES

   The Big Ten Conference announced today (Monday, May 4) that it will extend the previously announced suspension of all organized team activities through June 1, 2020, and will re-evaluate again at that time.

   This is an additional measure to the previously announced cancellation of all conference and non-conference competitions through the end of the academic year, including spring sports that compete beyond the academic year. The Conference also has previously announced a moratorium on all on- and off-campus recruiting activities for the foreseeable future.

   The Big Ten Conference will continue to use this time to work with the appropriate medical experts and institutional leadership to determine next steps relative to the COVID-19 pandemic.

   The main priority of the Big Ten Conference is to ensure the health, safety and wellness of our student-athletes, coaches, administrators, faculty, fans and media as we continue to monitor all developing and relevant information on the COVID-19 virus.

   Until the schools announced that campuses will open for classes in September, the college football season is in jeopardy, or at least the non-conference portion of the schedule is.  Purdue is the only school that I’m aware of where the President has announced there will be on-campus classes this fall.

   I will have more on this developing story in a future print edition of the Decatur Tribune.