College football fans starved of games got a big boost from President Trump after he touted a “productive” conversation with Big Ten Commissioner Kevin Warren regarding the on-again-off-again fall season.
“Had a very productive conversation with Kevin Warren, Commissioner of the Big Ten Conference, about immediately starting up Big Ten football,” Trump tweeted Tuesday morning. “Would be good (great!) for everyone — Players, Fans, Country. On the one yard line!”
Had a very productive conversation with Kevin Warren, Commissioner of the Big Ten Conference, about immediately starting up Big Ten football. Would be good (great!) for everyone – Players, Fans, Country. On the one yard line!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) September 1, 2020
The Big Ten, which includes powerhouse teams such as Ohio State University and Penn State University, is one of two top football conferences in the United States that has decided to forgo restarting the season in September. On Aug. 19, Warren said the Big Ten Council of Presidents and Chancellors had “overwhelmingly” voted in support of “postponing fall sports” and that the matter would not be revisited.
Other top conferences such as the Southeastern Conference, the Big 12, and the Atlantic Coast Conference decided to press on with the season amid the coronavirus pandemic.
Some parents of athletes at Big Ten universities have voiced their frustration with school administrators who pulled the plug on the season after the teams had gone through weeks of extensive testing and training to get ready for a September kickoff.
Speaking with reporters at Joint Base Andrews on Tuesday, Trump said his administration was “pushing very hard” to help get the season restarted.
“I think it was very productive about getting Big Ten playing again, immediately,” Trump said. “Let’s see what happens. He’s a great guy. It’s a great conference, tremendous teams. We’re pushing very hard. I think the biggest headwind we have is that you have Democrats that don’t want to see it happen.”
