Let the games begin, Cincinnati Football begins their 2020 season this Saturday. Facing Austin Peay Football at home at Noon Eastern time. With reasons beyond football for fans to be optimistic about this season.

In the midst of the discussions surrounding this college football season. Including questions about whether this season should be happening at all. Cincinnati Football collectively remains publicly focused, level-headed and united. In contrast to some college teams and most notably the Big Ten Conference. Cincinnati Football head coach Luke Fickell epitomizes his team’s approach.

Fickell has largely kept his nose to the grindstone preparing for the season. Essentially preparing for the next game whenever it takes place. He wasn’t mounting a public pressure campaign to play through interviews and social media posts. Fickell sought to mostly stay out of the fray and focus on his team. His approach to this season should be the boiler-plate approach of college football coaches.

Cincinnati Football players operated mostly with the same mindset in the off-season. When players spoke out about racial injustice. The players stuck together and Fickell stood with them. Overall, the team approached their discussions and actions in a unified way. For the most part in recent months; college football has mimicked America’s dis-unified approach to 2020. When it came to preparing for the 2020 season. We have an “everyone for themselves” when it comes to college football.

As a result, we had the exasperating soap opera in the Big Ten Conference. Which reversed course on their August decision to postpone their fall football season this week. After weeks of public pressure from players, their parents, coaches, Athletic Directors, politicians and fans. The Big Ten’s caving into that pressure fueled an unfortunate perception. That the Big Ten’s leaders lacked a backbone in this situation.

Making decisions motivated by panic while figuring out which way the wind blows. Instead of the approaching the discussions in a level-headed and scientifically based way. It was clear before the Big Ten made their August postponement announcement. That the conference was not united on this matter. In contrast to the Mid American and Pac 12 Conferences. Both stating their decisions made in August were agreed to unanimously. The Big Ten’s public lack of unity put the conference in a rough spot.

Making the conference’s reversal seem inevitable days before it happened. While fueling a cynical perception that this wasn’t grounded in health and science. Even though their ability to attain more rapid COVID-19 testing is a genuine improvement. The Big Ten seemingly presumed their August decision and clout would cause a cascade of postponements. Ultimately, the Pac 12 was the only Power Five conference that followed suit.

This and the backlash the Big Ten faced made them panic again. Even though the Big Ten’s initial decision to postpone fall football might prove to be the wise one. Due to COVID-19 outbreaks on campuses and within football programs. Which have resulted in some games being postponed in recent weeks. The Big Ten’s impatience resulted in the mess they’re now trying to clean up.

In the end, college football could learn plenty from Cincinnati Football’s example. Everyone needs to accept the reality that there will be hiccups along the way this season. By approaching those hiccups in a unified, focused and level-headed way. This college football season could end up being a surprising success. A similar approach on and off of the gridiron will be a key to success for Cincinnati too.