Big Ten COVID Cancellation Policy

[Uenth]

I understand what you are saying. From where I sit, vaccinated people are masking up again. I've noticed more folks in the grocery stores masking up. I've been doing an informal poll and asking people if they have had their vaccinations. I started this about 3 weeks ago when GI's numbers began to climb. One person, so far, has not gotten vaccinated and 7 say they are vaccinated. Bear in mind that I go to the stores very early in the morning so there aren't quite as many shoppers as say 10 or 11 AM. A month ago, I was the only person wearing a mask now it's unusual to not see someone wearing a mask.

 

[MRJFB]

It seems a no-brainer to me for the Athletic Department to require vaccinations for all of its student-athletes, coaches, trainers, student managers, etc. The last thing we need is for an off-the-field health issue to mess up our season.

Then cancel the season. The so called vaccines don't appear to do all that much.

 

[innmc]

Let's count the times the FDA approved and then RECALLED prescription drugs….

Approximately 1,200 in RECENT times, not counting the whole of times they got it WRONG.

Recalls, Market Withdrawals, & Safety Alerts | FDA

 

[innmc]

Pfizer arthritis drug Bextra was FDA APPROVED in 2001Pfizer made TENS OF BILLIONS
Heart attacks blood clots & strokes resulted from use. Pfizer was fined 1.95 BILLION Admitting to acting with intent to defraud or mislead' it was recalled in 2005.

 

[valiantsailor]

I understand what you are saying. From where I sit, vaccinated people are masking up again. I've noticed more folks in the grocery stores masking up. I've been doing an informal poll and asking people if they have had their vaccinations. I started this about 3 weeks ago when GI's numbers began to climb. One person, so far, has not gotten vaccinated and 7 say they are vaccinated. Bear in mind that I go to the stores very early in the morning so there aren't quite as many shoppers as say 10 or 11 AM. A month ago, I was the only person wearing a mask now it's unusual to not see someone wearing a mask.

Our local governor declared a mask was necessary to go indoors in public. However, if you are at a football game you can go to 65000 seat stadium outdoors of course without the mask but if you go to pee, you best have a mask on. I believe in the VAX, not the mask. I do as IM told, I wear the mask on my chin scofflaw that I am.

 

[redfred]

It seems a no-brainer to me for the Athletic Department to require vaccinations for all of its student-athletes, coaches, trainers, student managers, etc. The last thing we need is for an off-the-field health issue to mess up our season.

I know this is a hot button topic and one that I've tried to stay away from. I'm going to break that personal censure once and only once. Time will tell what was right and what was wrong, but the above is where my opinion is currently. I'm for vaccinations (yes, even mandatory in certain situations), and testing for those who don't want to. In my limited real world experience those who have been vaccinated have fared better, much better, than those who cast their vote to not get vaccinated. Yes, there have been a few breakthroughs for those vaccinated but their symptoms have paled in comparison to many who were unvaccinated and also got the Delta variant. Unfortunately the unvaccinated once again included at least one death and what appears to be some long term health issues for others.

If I'm to state the above it is only fair to mention that, again in my personal experience, that there has been one confirmed thrombotic event in someone I know following the J&J vaccine. He has recovered, but it was quite serious for awhile. I should also point out that certain research has shown that it is recommended that alcohol should be abstained 2 weeks before, and 4 weeks after this vaccination (J&J). He didn't do that.......not by a long shot. In fact it was after a party that the event happened.

I've got friends on both sides of this issue, and I've argued all I'm going to, but this is where I am. I feel the teams best chances for success includes vaccination. Imo the breakthroughs will be much fewer than if a low percentage are unvaccinated. Better and safer for the players AND staff.

 

[NorthwoodHusker]

The R0 for Delta is 3 to 4 times that of the original virus, so younger people are3 to 4 times more likely to get it as well but the results are the same, very low numbers of hospitalizations but more infections for those not vaxxed.
Being young youre likely OK as ever if youget the virus, its just more young ones getting it.
I believe in choice,and testing isnt the good either, toomany false positives, but continued testing weeds much of that out as well.

So try to get em vaxxed, test if theyre not, and hopefully theyll produce the same unblemished record as last year for the FBS

 

[Jarhead Husker]

I know this is a hot button topic and one that I've tried to stay away from. I'm going to break that personal censure once and only once. Time will tell what was right and what was wrong, but the above is where my opinion is currently. I'm for vaccinations (yes, even mandatory in certain situations), and testing for those who don't want to. In my limited real world experience those who have been vaccinated have fared better, much better, than those who cast their vote to not get vaccinated. Yes, there have been a few breakthroughs for those vaccinated but their symptoms have paled in comparison to many who were unvaccinated and also got the Delta variant. Unfortunately the unvaccinated once again included at least one death and what appears to be some long term health issues for others.

If I'm to state the above it is only fair to mention that, again in my personal experience, that there has been one confirmed thrombotic event in someone I know following the J&J vaccine. He has recovered, but it was quite serious for awhile. I should also point out that certain research has shown that it is recommended that alcohol should be abstained 2 weeks before, and 4 weeks after this vaccination (J&J). He didn't do that.......not by a long shot. In fact it was after a party that the event happened.

I've got friends on both sides of this issue, and I've argued all I'm going to, but this is where I am. I feel the teams best chances for success includes vaccination. Imo the breakthroughs will be much fewer than if a low percentage are unvaccinated. Better and safer for the players AND staff.

We can quote real world affects, freedom vs mandate, back and forth all day long, showing both sides of the issue, with data to back up our views. But, I have no desire to go there, because that has been hashed out ad nauseam and it would derail another thread. I am only interested in discussing the policies that relate to cancellation of games. It is clear to me that "science" and "an abundance of caution" for player safety are not the basis of the decision making, when you have two groups that can spread a virus & you decline to test one of them and let them expose a team. If you aren't testing vaccinated, then they can contract the virus, expose an entire team for an unlimited amount of time (15 minutes is the metric for transmitting the virus) and it will never be traced back to you unless you self-report symptoms. With the efficacy of Pfizer at around 40% vs the delta variant, it seems to me that the odds are good the vaccinated spreading the virus on a team is a plausible scenario. Unvaccinated WILL contract Covid and spread it, even if it is at a reduced rate. They should test all players, that way they have a better chance of catching asymptomatic players quickly before they expose/infect an entire team.

 

[NorthwoodHusker]

We can quote real world affects, freedom vs mandate, back and forth all day long, showing both sides of the issue, with data to back up our views. But, I have no desire to go there, because that has been hashed out ad nauseam and it would derail another thread. I am only interested in discussing the policies that relate to cancellation of games. It is clear to me that "science" and "an abundance of caution" for player safety are not the basis of the decision making, when you have two groups that can spread a virus & you decline to test one of them and let them expose a team. If you aren't testing vaccinated, then they can contract the virus, expose an entire team for an unlimited amount of time (15 minutes is the metric for transmitting the virus) and it will never be traced back to you unless you self-report symptoms. With the efficacy of Pfizer at around 40% vs the delta variant, it seems to me that the odds are good the vaccinated spreading the virus on a team is a plausible scenario. Unvaccinated WILL contract Covid and spread it, even if it is at a reduced rate. They should test all players, that way they have a better chance of catching asymptomatic players quickly before they expose/infect an entire team.

Ive seen the data, and its been abused or suppressed.
This calls for our own responsibility to truly learn, just as the Big lays that responsibility as forfeits, the perfect answer in todays its someones elses fault world.
I applaud their decision

 

[Doc Fumble]

I'm for vaccinations (yes, even mandatory in certain situations), and testing for those who don't want to. In my limited real world experience those who have been vaccinated have fared better, much better, than those who cast their vote to not get vaccinated.

I honestly don't understand why getting vaccinated should be a "hot button" issue. People are acting like requiring vaccines for work or school is something new. We've had vaccine "mandates" for well over sixty years in this country. No child goes to public schools (or most private ones as well) without showing proof of vaccination for a variety of diseases. So why is this one different?

As with any drug, there are always potential side-effects. But that's why we require FDA-approval in this country to assure the public they can trust them. Getting vaccinated is the commonsense way for our players and coaches to avoid getting COVID and increase our chances of seeing a full season of Husker games this fall.

GBR!!!

 

[Removed Spleen of Jordan]

Big Ten announces 2021 football season COVID-19 policy

The Big Ten released its COVID-19 policy on Monday morning, and if a team cannot play, it will receive a loss and the other team will get the win. If both teams have to cancel, then it’s considered a no-contest.

In collaboration and communication with the Big Ten Conference Athletic Directors, Chancellors and Presidents, the Task Force for Emerging Infectious Diseases, and the Sports Medicine Committee – effective today – the conference has determined that if one of its member institutions is unable to play a conference contest due to COVID-19, that contest shall be declared a forfeit and will not be rescheduled. That contest shall be considered a loss for the team impacted by COVID-19 and a win for its opponent in the conference standings. If both of the two competing teams are unable to participate in a scheduled Conference competition due to COVID-19 and as a result the competition is unable to occur on the calendar day on which it is scheduled, the competition shall be considered a “no contest.”

They can call this the Wisconsin Rule.

 

[NebSailor]

As a military and medical professional that has treated patients both in the military and civilian medicine, I’m going to refrain from giving my opinion on COVID going forward. It’s just gotten way too political for me. I will say, medicine is supposed to be objective and when it becomes more political than factual we all suffer the consequences.

 

[Huskergod84]

I honestly don't understand why getting vaccinated should be a "hot button" issue. People are acting like requiring vaccines for work or school is something new. We've had vaccine "mandates" for well over sixty years in this country. No child goes to public schools (or most private ones as well) without showing proof of vaccination for a variety of diseases. So why is this one different?

As with any drug, there are always potential side-effects. But that's why we require FDA-approval in this country to assure the public they can trust them. Getting vaccinated is the commonsense way for our players and coaches to avoid getting COVID and increase our chances of seeing a full season of Husker games this fall.

GBR!!!

actually you can use a number of excuses to not have your kids vaccinated and still go to school. One simply being that you dont believe in vaccinations. Another is religious reasons. And you dont even have to say what religion you are, just that your religion doesnt allow it.

 

[NebSailor]

I honestly don't understand why getting vaccinated should be a "hot button" issue. People are acting like requiring vaccines for work or school is something new. We've had vaccine "mandates" for well over sixty years in this country. No child goes to public schools (or most private ones as well) without showing proof of vaccination for a variety of diseases. So why is this one different?

As with any drug, there are always potential side-effects. But that's why we require FDA-approval in this country to assure the public they can trust them. Getting vaccinated is the commonsense way for our players and coaches to avoid getting COVID and increase our chances of seeing a full season of Husker games this fall.

GBR!!!

I agree, but what seems to get left out in all of this is the informed consent and the risk factor screening for many people. Almost all vaccines have disqualifying factors. So the alternative to the vaccine mandate is a Doctor’s exemption note. The politicalization of this particular vaccine is what people seem to have the problem with. The same with masks.

 

[Doc Fumble]

medicine is supposed to be objective and when it becomes more political than factual we all suffer the consequences.

Exactly! A vaccine is a vaccine is a vaccine, be it one for smallpox, measles, polio, or COVID-19. Thank God we live in an age where we have them!

The bottom line is that they give our team the best chance to stay healthy and PLAY BALL!!!

 

[Cigarman]

To me it looks like a fix for a problem that doesn't exist. When I researched this, I could not find a single college football player who had died from COVID. In fact, deaths among young people as a whole is next to zero and among those without underlying conditions it is even less.

In truth, among this demographic the flu is much more dangerous.

I am not an antivaxxer, but I think it should be your decision and not anyone else. Accepting risk is your decision. I ride a bike, that can be dangerous. People smoke cigarettes, people sky dive, people ride in hot air balloons, people eat fried food and hundreds of other things that have risk. It is up to the induvial to decide if the risk merits a vaccination. In truth, for people in this demographic it don't.

 

[innmc]

"If you think the government has the right to forcibly vaccinate people for the good of society,
what is to prevent them from forcibly sterilizing people, forcibly euthanizing people, or forcibly implanting a tracking device for the good of society?"
Dr. Lee Hieb

 

[Jarhead Husker]

Exactly! A vaccine is a vaccine is a vaccine, be it one for smallpox, measles, polio, or COVID-19. Thank God we live in an age where we have them!

The bottom line is that they give our team the best chance to stay healthy and PLAY BALL!!!

You must not know of anyone who has had a serious complication from a vaccine. For those of us that have, it's not as simple as you make it out to be, and there sure isn't zero risk to getting the jab. This Covid vaccine has a new delivery method never used on the populace, so there is that. There is also a VAERS database that has quite a bit of data concerning what can go wrong with being vaccinated. I'm not anti-vax, have had plenty, and have made sure my kids have received most of them, but there are some that the risk/reward isn't worth it in my view. And, risks will vary from person to person depending on their unique health situation/body chemistry. I would like to be able to make that decision instead of someone else forcing it on me. Now, back to the topic, it will be interesting to see how they handle some of these situations where the team has 100% vaccination and still has players test positive. It seems clear it will still cause a forfeit, but what/who will they blame and go after then?

 

[Crazyhole]

Fear just keeps moving the goalposts. It's pretty fascinating to watch it happen in real time.

 

[justino52]

Fear just keeps moving the goalposts. It's pretty fascinating to watch it happen in real time.

They only people that should be concerned about goal posts moving is kickers and even then, you should probably go for 2.