High school associations staying the course after Big Ten postponement
High school sports are still a go in Ohio and Michigan, albeit with some restrictions and limitations .
By Corey Crisan / The Blade
Wed, 12 Aug 2020 01:08:30 GMT
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The Big Ten conference emitted shock waves throughout the sports world when it announced on Tuesday that all fall sports, including football, would be postponed for the 2020 season.
High school sports are still a go in Ohio and Michigan, albeit with some restrictions and limitations as the nation continues to grapple with the coronavirus pandemic.
Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine is expected to address high school sports in greater detail later this week, but the OHSAA announced on Friday its plan to cut the season short by four games and include every team in the playoffs. As of Tuesday, that plan stands.
“Both the Governor and Lt. Governor said today that the college football situation doesn’t affect their decision regarding high school football,” OHSAA spokesman Tim Stried e-mailed to The Blade on Tuesday. “We will have a more detailed comment on Wednesday, but the OHSAA remains committed to playing football this fall.”
Gov. DeWine in a press conference Tuesday said the Big Ten’s announcement would not have bearing on the fate of fall high school sports.
“These decisions are not made in a vacuum by schools, by parents, or by us,” DeWine said. “We talk to a lot of people. The basic facts don’t change based on what the Big Ten does.”
In Michigan, the feeling might be slightly different.
MHSAA spokesman Geoff Kimmerly told The Blade on Tuesday the organization is taking into account and is paying attention to what happens at the higher level.
“Those decisions at the college level are going to figure into the conversations we continue to have,” he said. “We have said that we would announce by Aug. 20 what we would do as far as starting competition for football and soccer and volleyball, so the college decisions will certainly be a part of that decision.”
Football began non-contact practices statewide on Monday, and volleyball, boys soccer, cross-country, girls golf, boys and girls tennis, and girls swimming and diving begin Wednesday throughout parts of the state.
As of Tuesday, volleyball and swimming and diving will make efforts to practice outside in accordance with Michigan’s Phase 4 of its statewide Safe Start Plan in response to the pandemic.
While the MHSAA is noticing the Big Ten’s move, that doesn’t mean it is a lock to follow right along, at least right away.
“Our competition is really local,” Kimmerly said. “Even with the Big Ten saying it would play conference games, there was still travel. In Michigan, our schools are almost exclusively playing in-state. We’re a little bit different in that we don’t have as much travel, but still there’s a lot to talk about.
“We have been talking with our governor’s office throughout this decision process since March, and I’m sure we’ll continue to do that. Whatever we end up on will end up as a result of those conversations with them and the state’s health department.”