Reducing players' time demands a key focus of B1G meetings

[NUance]

Reducing players' time demands a key focus of B1G meetings

Brian Bennett, ESPN Staff Writer

 

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The Big Ten would like to put both those myths to rest through such actions as scrapping the 20-hour rule and putting padlocks on their workout facilities during the summer. Reducing time demands on players became a big topic at the Big Ten spring meetings this week, and -- unlike the pie-in-the-sky freshman-ineligibility idea -- conference leaders have some concrete ideas on how to accomplish that.

 

"Student-athletes need more time off," Wisconsin athletic director Barry Alvarez said "They need a little time to clear their heads, to do an internship, to study abroad."

 

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Whether or not you agree with this, it's reassuring that the last couple of B1G initiatives have been for changes to improve the life of student athletes. I don't think you'll see something like this coming out of the SEC.

[Thanks_Tom RR]

Call me skeptical, but I question Delany's motives. Do we see any of this without Northwestern football players trying to start an union, along with the other conversations about pay-for-play? IMO this is a business decision to define the student aspect of student-athletes as much as it is an attempt to better the life's of these students.

[NUance]

Well, I guess it could be that Delaney proposes these quality of life initiatives knowing that they won't have a ghost of a chance to pass. Just to make himself and the B1G look good. We'd find out if one of his initiatives ever made it far enough that he had to go to bat for it, or make a tough decision. Like having the B1G go it alone on one of these initiatives.