In a letter from Michigan House Speaker Lee Chatfield and signed by Senate Majority Leader Mike Shirkey, the Republican leaders urged the Big 10 Tuesday to re-examine its decision to cancel the football season.
The letter, signed by Republican lawmakers from five other states as well, states that “recent actions taken by other conferences across the country to start football and other fall sports have placed the Big 10…at a disadvantage.”
House Speaker Chatfield says that with Michigan high school football now back on, and other conferences across the country playing college football, to cancel the Big-10’s season is unfair.
“We have heard from parents, we have heard from coaches, and we have heard from athletes all across the state of Michigan and they feel that they have been held back,” Chatfield said. “And I think that what the Big-10 has unilaterally done is not right. When you look across the county, how is it safe for the SEC the ACC and the Big 12 to do fall sports but not the Big-10?”
The letter comes on the heels of President Donald Trump, who tweeted on Sunday that “Big Ten Football is looking really good, but may lose Michigan, Illinois, and Maryland because of those Governors’ ridiculous lack of interest or political support.”
Last Thursday, Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer eased restrictions that allowed for high school football to be played this fall.
President Donald Trump has put pressure on the Big-10 to reconsider its decision as well.
