Nebraska players sue Big Ten for fall football
A group of Nebraska football players filed a lawsuit Thursday in district court in Lincoln, hoping a jury will force the Big Ten to reinstate a fall football season.
The lawsuit contends, among other things, that the players are losing a chance for development and exposure for a possible pro career and that they won’t be able to market themselves to capitalize on name, image and likeness revenue opportunities.
The players want a court order that would keep the Big Ten from going through with its plan to push the football season to the spring.
The Big Ten, which didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment, said Aug. 11 it would move its football season from fall to spring because of health risks associated with the coronavirus pandemic.
†Notre Dame announced it will play South Florida on Sept. 19 in South Bend, Indiana, in its lone nonconference game of the season. The Irish will play as a member of the Atlantic Coast Conference this season because of the coronavirus pandemic.
COLLEGE BASKETBALL
Longtime Arizona coach Olson dies at 85 Hall of Fame coach Lute Olson, who guided Arizona to the NCAA men’s title with an overtime victory against Kentucky in 1997, died in Tucson, his family said. He was 85.
Olson coached Long Beach State for a season and Iowa for nine before embarking on a 24-year career with the Wildcats in 1983. He guided the Hawkeyes to the NCAA Tournament in each of his last five seasons at the school, including a Final Four appearance in 1980, then led Arizona to the NCAA Tournament in each of his last 23 seasons.
In addition to their title, the Wildcats also reached the final in 2001 and the Final Four in 1988 and 1994 under Olson, who had a career record of 780-280 in 34 seasons.
HORSE RACING
Arlington OK’d for fans starting Thursday The Illinois Department of Public Health, Cook County Department of Public Health and Arlington Heights Department of Health and Human Services approved a plan to allow Arlington International Racecourse to have up to 300 spectators in the outdoor areas of the facility on race days starting Thursday.
The plan will take effect in time for some fans to enjoy watching the Kentucky Derby on Sept. 5 from Churchill Downs.
† The California Horse Racing Board voted to proceed with a complaint seeking the disqualification of 2018 Triple Crown winner Justify from his victory in the Santa Anita Derby the same year after his postrace urine sample tested positive for scopolamine, a drug most often used to treat motion sickness.