Big Ten Return To Play Vote Tabbed For Sunday
After weeks of back and forth on whether the Big Ten should play football this fall, it appears that a conclusion may be on the horizon. Fox Sports' Bruce Feldman reported earlier today that there has been significant traction among Big Ten administrators regarding the conference's return to play, and discussions over the weekend could result in a final decision.
"What I'm told is their medical committee feels like it has a better handle on the cardiac issue, the myocarditis," Feldman said on Saturday. "They feel like they have some testing protocols in place. They have worked through what they feel like they have learned in the last six weeks since the vote but also some of the issues that may have changed or come to light. There's been breakthroughs on the testing front. They have to feel confident in these new rapid daily test."
According to Feldman, the Big Ten Return to Competition Task Force will be participating on a Zoom call today with the Big Ten Steering Committee. This call is designed to establish new medical recommendations for the conference. If the meeting yields positive results, Feldman mentioned that a potential re-vote on the fall 2020 season could come as early as Sunday.
"If things go well on this Zoom call today, there could be a presidents meeting with all 14 presidents for a potential vote as early as tomorrow, I am told. Keep in mind, there have been pauses right now in the Wisconsin athletic program as well as the Maryland athletic program, so there are some issues. But from the people I talked to, especially last night, I think there is more optimism on the Big Ten front than there has been in a long time."
Feldman's timeline of a potential re-vote falling on Sunday also corresponds to a report from WXYZ Detroit's Brad Galli. According to his sources, much of the discussion will be centered around new testing procedures that can yield results in a matter of minutes instead of a days. This advancement greatly increases the Big Ten's chances of returning to the field anytime soon. And if a vote is held this weekend, Galli believes it could be dramatically one-sided with a sweep as every school in the Big Ten votes to return to play.
Now, that may sound like wishful thinking giving all the moving parts involved in this scenario, but it does corroborate the fact that pressure is mounting on the Big Ten. Michigan players and had coach Jim Harbaugh participated in a protest last weekend, former Ohio State linebacker Bobby Carpenter has been as vocal as any about a lack of consistency from the Big Ten's leaders, and significant high-level boosters have come forward urging the conference to play a season this fall.
It is too early to know when the Big Ten could begin its season, but mid-October is still being thrown around as a potential target. Dan Patrick peddled Oct. 10 as the date to pay attention to for a couple weeks, and any progress made over the weekend will go a long ways in determining if he was right.
Will the Big Ten actually hold a vote to play this weekend or has everyone seen this movie before? What do you think is going to happen? Let us know!