President Trump Reaches out to B1G Commissioner Kevin Warren
Since postponing the college football season on August 11, the Big Ten has received a lot of attention from fans, media, parents of players, coaches, and the student-athletes themselves.
No response has been more prominent than yesterday when President Donald Trump spoke to reporters before taking off for Kenosha, Wisconsin.
"I think it was very productive about getting the Big Ten playing again and immediately. Let's see what happens. He's a great guy. It's a great conference, tremendous teams.
"We're pushing very hard. ... I think they want to play, and the fans want to see it, and the players have a lot at stake, including possibly playing in the NFL," Trump said. "You have a lot of great players in that conference."
In a tweet, the President said the Big Ten is "on the one yard-line," when it comes to getting football back.
However, reports suggest the conference isn't any closer to returning despite Trump's best efforts.
Multiple dates have been thrown around for a potential restart to the season, but it more than likely won't be back until Thanksgiving (at the earliest).
The league confirmed, "a White House representative reached out to Big Ten Conference Commissioner Kevin Warren on Monday … to facilitate a phone call between President Donald J. Trump and Commissioner Warren."
They described the conversation as "productive," but added the conference wouldn't take the field immediately.
"The Big Ten Conference and its Return to Competition Task Force, on behalf of the Big Ten Council of Presidents and Chancellors (COP/C), are exhausting every resource to help student-athletes get back to playing the sports they love, at the appropriate time, in the safest and healthiest way possible," the conference said in a statement Tuesday afternoon.
So, will Trump's phone call with Kevin Warren change anything? Probably not considering the presidents and chancellors would have to approve it.
Six individuals who voted to postpone the season would need to change their votes to exceed the 60% required due to the Big Ten by-laws.
Additionally, the conference has been adamant about the unknown the coronavirus presents, citing medical advice they've received from the Big Ten Task Force for Emerging Infectious Diseases and the Big Ten Sports Medicine Committee.
Warren is simply a messenger; the decision to come back won't be his, nor will it be the head coaches.
If I had to guess, Big Ten universities won't see the gridiron until it has been deemed safe by medical professionals.
It's up to the university presidents, and if the league's doctors can present enough information to convince them to change their minds – the Big Ten might kickoff in November.
But there's loads of work to be done before then.
Tell us what you think in the comment section below.
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