Big Ten Conference commissioner Tony Petitti is facing a difficult decision about whether or not to levy punishment on the Michigan Wolverines as a result of an alleged sign-stealing scandal. But one former Big 12 commissioner is urging the commissioner not to rush to judgment.
During an interview with On3 this week, former Big 12 commissioner Steven J. Hatchell made it clear that he thinks Tony Petitti should not rush to make a decision or levy a punishment on the matter.
“There should not be a rush to judgment,” Hatchell told On3 on Wednesday. “If this were happening in February or March, relative to football, there wouldn’t be the push. We’re right in the middle of the football season, with the end of the season coming up and greater ramifications. So, it puts a greater light on it right now. It seems like there’s a lot of very thoughtful direction that the commissioner and others are having. You just can’t have a rush to judgment.”
The fact that this scandal took place in the midst of a college football season has led some to call for swift judgment and punishment from the Big Ten, which has the authority to levy such punishment due to the league’s Sportsmanship Policy. We’ll have to see what Petitti decides to do.
[On3]
