On Saturday, members of the Football Parents at Ohio State submitted a letter to Big Ten commissioner Kevin Warren asking him to reevaluate the decision to cancel the 2020 Big Ten football season, along with other fall sports.
On Sunday, Ohio State quarterback Justin Fields created a petition on the website MoveOn.org, asking for signatures in that same effort. From the petition:
We, the football players of the Big Ten, together with the fans and supporters of college football, request that the Big Ten Conference immediately reinstate the 2020 football season. Allow Big Ten players/teams to make their own choice as to whether they wish to play or opt out this fall season. Allow Big Ten players/teams who choose to opt out of playing a fall season to do so without penality (sic) or repercussion.
Why is this important?We want to play. We believe that safety protocols have been established and can be maintained to mitigate concerns of exposure to Covid 19. We believe that we should have the right to make decisions about what is best for our health and our future. Don’t let our hard work and sacrifice be in vain. #LetUsPlay!
The petition, which has been retweeted by many Ohio State players, coaches, staffers and parents, had received over 200,000 signatures by Sunday night.
This cause is close to my heart - please sign: https://t.co/yFKlYE7pP0
— Justin Fields (@justnfields) August 16, 2020
A Big Ten spokesperson told ESPN's Adam Rittenberg on Sunday afternoon that the league was aware of the petition but had no comment at this time.
