With the Big Ten Conference still deliberating whether or not to hold some type of football season and power programs from the ACC, SEC and other leagues preparing to do battle on the gridiron, Michigan football’s last national champion quarterback is speaking out against the league’s potential, if not likely, cancellation of the 2020 season.

“I think it’s unfortunate,” Griese said during an ESPN conference call on Wednesday according to a report from The Detroit News.

“Certainly, the Big Ten made a decision early on. They made a decision without consultation with other conferences, which I think was a mistake. I know they wanted to be ahead of it, but at the same time, in a rush to be one of the first and be a leader, I think they made a mistake in not waiting to get more information and more data back.”

While many political voices within the state including Governor Gretchen Whitmer believe the Big Ten made the right decision, Griese believes the players should be given the option to play.

“The ones that are suffering are the kids,” he said.

Griese is preparing for his debut as part of the Monday Night Football team calling the Titans-Broncos game next Monday at 10 p.m. along with Steve Levy and Louis Riddick.

The 10-year NFL veteran believes his life would have been far different if he had been denied his opportunity to play his senior season with the Wolverines, and is concerned that the program’s current players could miss out on some of the best times of their lives.

“I think back to if I didn’t have the chance to play my senior year at Michigan, I never would have gotten drafted,” Griese said. “I never would have come to Denver, I wouldn’t have met my wife, I wouldn’t have my kids, I wouldn’t be on this call today, I wouldn’t be doing Monday Night Football.

“It’s that game of sliding doors that is real for seniors that are playing in college right now that are not potentially going to have an opportunity to fulfill that dream, and that’s what bothers me the most.”




Another vote is expected on whether or not the league will have a season shortly, according to Nebraska president Ted Carter.

Fellow Michigan Legends Mostly Quiet on Social Media

 

Even as Coach Jim Harbaugh, NFL prospect and defensive end Aidan Hutchinson and others marched for the right to play earlier this month, few former Michigan football players have shared their thoughts on whether or not the 2020 season should be played in light of the current coronavirus situation.

Former Heisman Trophy winner and Super Bowl MVP Desmond Howard has been active in discussing the issue on his Twitter account, and has mostly taken a non-commital approach as to whether he thinks his alma mater should play or not.

“Let me take a sec to clear this up for the folks in my mentions stuck on daft re: my stance on the CFB season,” Howard said.

“I never said it shouldn’t proceed. Instead, I’ve consistently referred to the uncertainty & differing medical opinions about the short & long term effects of COVID-19…




“Being cautious about something does not equate to rooting against it. There are no definitive right or wrong answers here. Yet. Like it or not, everything we are doing at this moment in time can best be described as trying our best and hoping for the same.”

Howard remains hopeful, but also cautious in light of potential complications and health concerns associated with the virus.

“Personally, I hope it all goes off without a hitch b/c 1) I love this game & this game loved me back in ways most people can only dream about & 2) I don’t want to be sitting at our GameDay desk at any point having to react to a sad Rinaldi feature about anyone irreparably harmed…”

Howard also responded to comments about the alleged hypocrisy of Big Ten Commissioner Kevin Warren, whose son will be playing this fall even as the Big Ten continues to deny its players the ability to participate in the sport many have staked their future livelihoods on.

“You seem to be under the impression Kevin Warren made this decision. Your beef is with the majority of B1G University presidents who voted to postpone, but instead you’re shooting their messenger. Lastly, what he decides with his family is not my business nor should it be (yours).”