NORMAL — With many connections in the Big Ten Conference stemming from his days as a player and coach at Purdue, Illinois State football coach Brock Spack had “apologies coming from every direction” last week.
“I got the heads up 48 hours before. It was imminent 24 hours before,” Spack said of the Big Ten’s decision to cancel all nonconference football games because of the COVID-19 pandemic. “It was disappointing, but I understand it. We all get it. It was something they felt they had to do.”
That move meant Spack’s Redbirds had their season opener, which was scheduled for Sept.