COLUMBUS, Ohio — As the Big Ten continues to stall in its attempt to come up with a plan to have a football season, Ohio State head coach Ryan Day has taken his frustration out on social media.
In a letter posted on Twitter, Day said that while he understands the conference’s decision to postpone its season due to health and safety considerations over COVID-19, he said the communication of information following that decision has been “disappointing and often unclear”.
"However, we still have an opportunity to give our young men what they have worked so hard for: a chance to safely compete for a national championship this fall,” Day said, adding that he couldn’t be prouder of how his team, medical personnel and university leaderships have stayed together during this time. The Buckeyes head coach also saluted the Big Ten's medical subcommittee for doing 'an excellent job clearing the way for a return to play in October.'
“These young men and their parents have asked so many questions that I do not have an answer to, but the one that hurts the most is ‘Why can these other teams and players play and we can’t?’” Day in closing.
At his press briefing earlier this week, Gov. Mike DeWine said that he spoke to Ohio State athletic director Gene Smith and left the conversation believing that it was still "in play" for the Buckeyes to play a 2020 football season.
"I think there certainly is a decent chance of there being a season in football for the Big Ten, for Ohio State, which is what we're really concerned about," DeWine said. "I talked to Gene Smith this morning about that issue. I'm not going to disclose our conversation other than I inquired about it. He told me it was still in play, still very much a possibility."
Meanwhile, Ohio Attorney General David Yost said that Ohio State could sue the Big Ten over the decision to postpone. A spokesperson for Yost's office confirmed a report from the Columbus Dispatch which said he is reviewing matters to consider recommending that Ohio State sue for monetary damages.
Yost thinks Ohio State can sue the conference and member schools that voted against playing for tens of millions of dollars if those negotiations stall. Ohio State was one of three schools in the Big Ten to vote against postponing the season.
Ohio State said it projects a $130 million loss in athletics revenue without fall sports.