Sheldon Jacobson: Time for Big Ten to lead

The University of Wisconsin football team announced 12 covid-19 infections, including head coach Paul Chryst, after their rout of the University of Illinois Oct. 23. Although no one will likely know the exact details of what transpired, there are several issues that come forward from this sequence of events that should apply to every college football team, as well as every other college team sport played this season.

First, if the standard to play means no infections on the playing field, it is necessary to err on the side of prudence and keep any players who test positive out of the lineup, no matter how valuable they are to the team and no matter the type of test administered. We are not talking about players dying or hospitalizations; we are talking about common-sense decency and community responsibility.

The Big 10 reinstated football under a set of stringent rules and requirements. The best way to keep the virus from spreading on the field is to keep it off the field. If a star player tests positive, do not second-guess the result waiting for confirmation, while the player leads the team to victory. Accept the test results as correct, and act accordingly with integrity.

Second, any team that intentionally violates the first point should forfeit its victories and be forced to end its season immediately, with no opportunity for post-season play. Every team has the chance to do things right, and if evidence indicates a team did not, ending its season early is appropriate. If data exists that exonerates the team, share it promptly. When multiple infections break out on a team, including coaching staff, this suggests a problem, namely, efforts to mitigate virus spread were not followed. The Big 10 must employ a zero-tolerance approach for all teams and use data appropriately to inform decisions.

Third, any team that allows infected or suspected infected players on the field impacts the well-being of its opponents. For example, with several Wisconsin players infected and possibly contagious during the game, Illinois players on the field were unknowingly put at risk, which appears to have resulted in two Illinois players becoming infected. The University of Illinois has the most aggressive virus testing protocol in the nation, with over 55,000 tests administered every week across campus, including student athletes. Zero tolerance for allowing infected or potentially infected players on the field is the only reasonable standard. Every team trusts every other team to act responsibly.

If a team is determined to have infected players on the field for a game, it should be given the opportunity to clear its name and share its virus prevention protocols and anonymized, aggregated data. For example, the announcement shared on the Wisconsin website concerning team infections is long on contrition but short on explanation and details. Transparency of protocols and how decisions were made is critical. No team should be unfairly nor wrongly accused.

With the start of college basketball just a few weeks away, the same standards must be applied to ensure that infected players remain off the court. Several Big 10 men’s basketball teams (including Wisconsin, Iowa, Michigan State and Illinois) have national championship aspirations. A poorly timed infection of one or two key players can be the difference between a No. 1 seed in the tournament and a more difficult path to the Final Four.

Every team wants to win, and to win with integrity intact. If college sports are to remain successful this season, everyone — players, coaches, athletic directors — must buy in. This is about teamwork, trust, responsibility, and yes, leadership, the very best character traits and skills developed when participating in college sports. The Big 10 can lead, setting the bar for all college sports conferences to emulate.

Sheldon Jacobson is a Founder Professor of Computer Science at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.