Justin Fields’ petition to save Big Ten football could be successful

An attorney believes Justin Fields stands a great chance of saving Big Ten football

Last week, stars across college football stood united to say that they’re willing to play this fall during the coronavirus pandemic. One of those premier athletes was Ohio State quarterback Justin Fields, who became very outspoken since reports indicated the fall season could be canceled. Unfortunately for Fields, the Big Ten ultimately decided to postpone their campaign until the spring. Fields began a petition this weekend to get the entire Big Ten conference back onto the field, and he has 250,000 signatures as of this writing. But will he be successful?

According to Tom Mars, Fields former attorney, his petition could potentially save Big Ten football this fall.

“I think it’s going to matter a lot,” Mars told The Columbus Dispatch. “I think it already matters. I don’t think this dilemma is going to be solved in a court of law. I think it’s going to be solved in the court of public opinion. I can’t think of any individual in college football — player, coach or otherwise — who has more credibility and respect than Justin Fields.”

Fields thinks the Big Ten should give fall season a shot like other conferences

Mars previously served as Fields’ attorney back in 2019, when the signal caller appealed the NCAA’s ruling that any transfer athlete has to sit out a full season. Mars was successful, and allowed Fields to have his breakout campaign with Ohio State last season.

Fields has been pushing for the Big Ten to reconsider their decision, especially since the SEC, Big 12 and ACC are committed to give their fall seasons a go. The Buckeyes quarterback believes that the players and teams should make their own choice on whether they should participate in a fall season. In fact, Mars himself said that if a college athlete can enlist in the military, then they should be able to decide whether they feel safe playing during a global pandemic.

Two weeks ago, the NCAA announced they would ban schools from making student athletes sign waiver liability forms if they wanted to workout on campus during the COVID-19 pandemic. Parents of Big Ten players sent a letter to commissioner Kevin Warren, asking him to allow their children to sign those waivers if it meant having a season.

Additionally, Mars feels the Big Ten made their decision too soon, because this past weekend, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved the emergency use of a new saliva-based tests for COVID-19. The Yale University test is viewed as a game changer in tracking the spread of the coronavirus and could help sports leagues run more effectively.

Mars feels that there’s no bigger voice in college football than Justin Fields, and that the star quarterback could potentially save the fall campaign. Whether that happens remains to be seen.

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