The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/1279712
18 THE WOLVERINE SEPTEMBER 2020 postpone an athletic season in order to protect the health and well-being of our student-athletes, staff and com- munity members," Manuel asserted. "As a result, all fall sport schedules have been postponed. This latest deci- sion was reached after careful consid- eration and the grim knowledge that this pandemic continues to affect our country adversely. "I am deeply saddened for our stu- dent-athletes and remain committed to our ongoing promise to provide them with a world-class education. We remain grateful to our global Michigan family for their unwaver- ing support." Head football coach Jim Harbaugh — who argued vigorously for a sea- son, invoking Michigan's own fact- based results in protecting athletes — clearly did not share his bosses' support for the move. "Our student-athletes and coaches want to compete," Harbaugh under- scored in a statement. "They have committed, trained and prepared their entire lives for this opportunity, and I know how much they're disap- pointed at this time. I share in their disappointment today. "We have shown over the weeks since returning to campus that we could meet the challenge and provide our student-athletes the opportunity of a fall football season. Our football team, our coaching staff, our support staff in Schembechler Hall have all stepped up, followed every rule and done everything in their power mag- nificently to give all the opportunity to compete. "I am extremely proud, thankful and appreciative of our team and how they have conducted and represented our program and university." DECISION STIRS DISAPPOINTMENT, IRE Harbaugh certainly wasn't alone in his disappointment. Tyler Cochran would have been a fifth-year senior defensive back on the 2020 Michigan football team. The son of former Har- baugh teammate and U-M defensive back Brad Cochran (1981-85) now won't get that chance. The younger Cochran exhibited no reticence to reveal his anger over get- ting the rug pulled out from under him. He also didn't hold back criti- cism on those he deems responsible. Cochran posted to Instagram: "Un- fortunately, the incompetent presi- dents of the @bigten decided, despite constant testing and strict protocols, that the voices of the players were irrelevant and canceled the season." Cochran didn't hold back regarding Schlissel, either. "It's even more disappointing that the @uofmichigan President did not come speak to our team or even ex- plain his decision-making process," the social media post continued. "Not surprising since I've never seen him in the facility in my 4+ years here. Due to this decision, I, along with many of my brothers, may never be able to play the game of football again." A former Wolverine and frequent contributor to TheWolverine.com shared Cochran's frustration and an- ger over the abrupt end of Big Ten football for 2020. Former U-M offen- sive lineman Doug Skene (1988-92) holds five Big Ten championship rings from his playing years, and feels for those who won't get a shot at one. At first, he characterized the initial feeling as "disbelief," but caught him- self. Skene actually saw the way ev- erything began developing, with con- stant news reports about COVID-19 spikes around the country, football programs affected and the recent deci- sion of the Mid-American Conference (MAC) to cancel its season. "But I honestly thought that with all the things these players have been do- ing, all the testing these colleges have been doing, it was possible," Skene said. "All the protocols and CDC guidelines that could possibly be fol- lowed were being followed. "I actually thought we were going to get to see college football this fall. Granted, without full stadiums, but we'd get to see the games." When the MAC balked, Skene could see it coming, he insisted. "I thought, how is the Big Ten sup- posed to justify this?" he said. "Then my feelings turned to, well this turns into a 'cover your [butt]' exercise. And Big Ten commissioner Kevin Warren noted the decision to postpone all fall sports was "made on a collective basis" by the conference, and he expects all 14 schools "to remain together and work together collectively to make sure our conference stays strong, athletically and academically." PHOTO COURTESY MICHIGAN PHOTOGRAPHY Big Ten commissioner Kevin Warren "As time progressed and after hours of discussion with our Big Ten Task Force for Emerging Infectious Diseases and the Big Ten Sports Medicine Committee, it became abundantly clear that there was too much uncertainty regarding potential medical risks to allow our student-athletes to compete this fall."