The Big Ten Conference has officially voted to cancel all sports for the upcoming fall semester amid COVID-19 concerns.
The decision comes after speculation from multiple media outlets that the conference would cancel following a 12-2 vote from Big Ten presidents. MSU President Samuel L. Stanley Jr. was among those who voted not to play in the upcoming season.
“The mental and physical health and welfare of our student-athletes has been at the center of every decision we have made regarding the ability to proceed forward,” Big Ten Commissioner Kevin Warren said in the Big Ten's statement on the postponement. “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."
There have been talks of the season being canceled for weeks and stirred again recently when Dan Patrick announced on his show that both the Big Ten and Pac 12 were planning to cancel their seasons. Reportedly, the Big Ten athletic directors met for an official vote on Monday evening.
The Big Ten officially announced its decision at a conference Tuesday following last week's decision move to a 10-game, conference-only schedule beginning Labor Day weekend. Michigan State was expected to start the season against the Minnesota Golden Gophers on Sept. 5.
Michigan State beat reporter for The Athletic Colton Pouncy spotted players walking from practice with trash bags full of belongings and Free Press beat reporter Chris Solari confirmed from sources that Spartans were told today at practice.
Michigan State football players have been active on Twitter, both pushing to play this season, as well as pushing back against the season for health concerns.
Several key Spartans have already opted out of the season due to concerns surrounding COVID-19, including starting defensive tackle Jacub Panasiuk and starting right tackle Jordan Reid.
This is a developing story. Stay with The State News for updates.
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