The Big Ten is definitely leading the country in statements issued by and to its leaders and fans. That includes a group of legislators from across the Midwest.

Well, the conference has responded to that letter with a statement of its own.

The latest volley was sent by representatives earlier this week including the Speaker of the Michigan House Lee Chatfield. The group wanted the Big Ten to urgently reverse course.

“Recent actions taken by other conferences across the country to start football and other fall sports have placed the Big Ten, its members and students at a disadvantage,” the legislators’ letter wrote. “These athletes are losing a vital part of student life and are becoming less marketable to future employers with each passing week. Additionally, our local universities stand to lose hundreds of millions of dollars that support vital student scholarships.”

The conference’s response was that, “we all want the same thing, which is for “sports to continue safely.'”

Adam Rittenberg of ESPN reported, “the tone here and in the response to the President’s tweet indicates the B1G’s timeline to return is moving up. Won’t be as quick as many want, but late October isn’t out of the question, from what I’m told.”