President Donald Trump gives hope to Big Ten fans wanting to play football this fall
President Donald Trump has walked back into the college football landscape and reported having a very productive conversation with Big Ten Commissioner Kevin Warren about starting the conference’s season.
While the conference hasn’t confirmed recent reporting, the latest news related to the Big Ten is that one option is that it would start its season at Thanksgiving, and would play 8 games. A previous plan had been that the league would start in January, and play 8 games. One option is to play games in domed stadiums in major cities around the Midwest.
Trump earlier this summer retweeted Clemson QB Trevor Lawrence, who led a “We Want to Play” movement, and Trump also said he spoke with LSU coach Ed Orgeron about the season.
Warren has drawn backlash for his messaging around the Big Ten calling off its games, and seeing groups of players and parents start petitions, lawsuits and visit the conference’s headquarters to talk with Warren. The splintered movement was complicated when the governors of Ohio and Pennsylvania said their states could start high school football, while the likes of Ohio State and Penn State were sidelined.
Meanwhile, a vote breakdown of the school presidents and chancellors revealed that the decision to call off the season was 11-3, with Nebraska, Iowa and Ohio State making up the dissenting votes.
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