The Big Ten Conference, already in court and under pressure from players and parents over its decision to cancel fall football, is now hearing from President Donald Trump.
Trump tweeted Tuesday he has spoken with Big Ten Commissioner Kevin Warren about reinstating the fall season. The Big Ten had no immediate comment.
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 league announced August 11 it would move its football season to the spring semester because of health risks associated with the pandemic. Trump has framed the debate over player and fan safety as a political one.
Last month, Big Ten Commissioner Kevin Warren wrote an open letter that listed several reasons for postponing fall sports, saying that "transmission rates continue to rise at an alarming rate" and "there is simply too much we do not know about the virus, recovery from infection, and longer-term effects.”
A new court filing shows that Big Ten Conference presidents voted 11-3 to postpone the football season until spring, and Ohio State's president was reportedly among those casting a "no" vote.
The filing did not identify how each school specifically voted, but a person familiar with the outcome told The Associated Press that Ohio State, Iowa, and Nebraska voted against postponing the fall football season.
The court filing is the Big Ten's response to a lawsuit brought by a group of Nebraska football players who want the fall season reinstated.
