Off Tackle Empire Releases Statement On Ohio State Buckeyes Football Cancellation of Illibuck 2020

Amid an outbreak within the Ohio State Buckeyes football program, the Buckeyes have chosen not to play today’s scheduled contest against the Illinois Fighting Illini for control of the legendary Illibuck trophy.

Off Tackle Empire has released an official statement on Twitter questioning the transparency in the decision making process and expressing hope that the Illibuck might yet be contested:

Illini correspondent Thumpasaurus said in Saturday’s statement that while he understands that the coronavirus pandemic drove the decision to cancel the game, “the communication from Ohio State following the cancellation has been disappointing and often unclear.”

Illini fans and parents are reportedly planning on organizing outside of an empty administration building in Columbus, sharing the frustrations of their Off Tackle Empire correspondent.

The official statement ended with a simple question: “why can’t they play?”

The next scheduled game for the Fighting Illini, who defeated Scott Frost’s Nebraska Cornhuskers, is a home contest against an Iowa Hawkeyes team who, like Nebraska and Ohio State, had their president vote against the initial cancellation of the season.