COLUMBUS, Ohio -- Chris Spielman called Big Ten commissioner Jim Delany a genius. That's why he can't believe that Delany said he doesn't know much about Spielman's lawsuit against Ohio State seeking compensation for former athletes when Ohio State profits off their name or likeness.
"I don't know the facts of that case," Delany said on July 24 when asked in a news conference by cleveland.com about the suit. "I think that case will get worked out, but I really don't, from a Big Ten perspective, I really don't have a comment. ... I'm really not, even though I read the newspaper's version of this case, I really don't know a lot of detail about it."
In an interview this week with cleveland.com, Spielman and his attorney Brian K. Duncan had a hard time believing the Big Ten's boss didn't have a better understanding of the case.
"When the most powerful school in the Big Ten gets an action filed against them, I find it surprising and shocking to believe that the commissioner is unaware of it," Duncan said.
"I understand coach-speak, but to think the athletic directors and the presidents of the Big Ten are not overly familiar with this case and that they didn't have much to say, I believe that is disingenuous at best."
"It would be surprising," Spielman added, "if they don't know what's going on."
But here's where Spielman agrees with Delany.
"If he believes it's going to be settled, he knows a little something about it," Spielman said. "And I would like it to be settled. I'm going to direct Brian and our attorneys to continue to be open and to say we'll sit down and talk whenever you want."
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So far, Duncan and Spielman said there has been almost no contact with Ohio State since the suit was filed on July 14. Duncan said they had been in negotiations for more than eight months before the suit was filed. Since the filing, Duncan said there has been no further discussion other than brief talks with IMG, Ohio State's licensing partner that was also named in the suit.
An Ohio State spokesman has referred all questions back to the school's original statement that said only that the school valued its former athletes and was aware of the lawsuit.
Spielman's hope is that the lawsuit leads to change that creates a partnership between Ohio State and former players. His goal isn't a one-time payout.
"We're all open to meet tomorrow," Spielman said. "I don't want this to go through the court system. I don't want to have to waste money on lawsuits. I don't want to do this. Why do we have to do this? Just step up and do the right thing and everyone wins. Let's be on the forefront of change for the betterment of college football.
"So the phone is always open."