Clay Travis
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President Donald Trump called Big Ten Commissioner Kevin Warren this morning to discuss the return to play of Big Ten athletics. The call, which was described as lasting 15 to 20 minutes, was described as a great and productive conversation which was in no way partisan. In fact, both men, President Trump and Commissioner Warren, stated on the call they agreed that football shouldn’t be partisan in any way and that it was important to get sports back in the Big Ten as soon as it was safely possible.
The call, which was scheduled yesterday at the request of the White House, focused on the necessary steps needed to get Big Ten athletics, particularly football, back on the field sooner rather than later.
Commissioner Warren told the president that he was exhausting every measure possible to play. The president promised to make testing and federal resources available to enable a return to Big Ten play. Commissioner Warren now needs for the Big Ten’s return to competition task force to provide him with a list of resources and thresholds necessary for a return to play, which he will then provide to the White House.
Both President Trump and Commissioner Warren would like to see sports return as soon as possible, potentially even this fall. Ultimately, however, the decision of whether to play fall sports rests with the Big Ten presidents and chancellors, who recently voted 11-3 to suspend all fall sports.
As much as the president and the commissioner may want to play this fall, the presidents and chancellors would have to overturn their decision to make that possible.
As Outkick was writing this story, the President tweeted as follows.
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
We will continue to update you on this story.
Encouraging. I live in Nashville, but grew up in Pennsylvania. I would love to see Penn State, Ohio State, Michigan, and all the other Big 10 Teams playing in September.
Trump 2020
Worth a try, but I don’t think the Big 10 has any intention of doing anything other than creating as much chaos and problems as possible until November 4th at the earliest. If nothing else its a good look for Trump to make the effort.
Corona Bros vs science. Hope the good guys win.
This would be great for the kids. Boxed in by 45. P.S. I’ll still be pulling for the Big10 to have a soul crushing loss in the CFB semi-finals.
Remember Desmond Howard crying that Nebraska should be kicked out for not taking the decision lying down? those were the good old days.
Typical shill from the four-letter SJW network — the type of thing that I’d expect from a network that kept Dumber and Dumber Jr. on the air for years….
I don’t trust Warren as far as I can throw him. I’m totally down with the idea that he’s a vested interest in seeing Joe Biden win. He’s a damn snake. He’ll publicly talk about how the discussion went well but in reality, he’s hoping his tiny amount of college players he got to register will all vote ‘the right way’ to help get the bad orange man gone.
He might be looking to deflect attention from his political decision to save face with all of the football programs. If the decision is reversed, clever words will be used to show that the original decision was justified. Everyone will rejoice that the Big 10 is lead by altruistic heroes. And nobody will call him out. Because the kids get to play. I would rather be free.
Trump is smart. He’s been pushing for football for weeks. Biden dumps a weak TV ad saying just the opposite and claims and he is responsible for the shutdown. Trump counters by calling Warren and tweeting about it. Cost nothing except his time. He circumvents the media and looks like a deal maker, especially if they play. And he puts pressure on them to do so by suggesting they are at the “one-yard” line. Game, set, match, Trump.
Yep.
Warren is a liar The President will need to keep the pressure on, I’m glad he is trying we know Biden would never do something like this to help.
I find it difficult to believe that Warren is doing anything other than CYA to keep his job. Given his previously stated SJW positions, I’m guessing he played on college administrator liberal white guilt to strong-arm them into giving up the football season. I’ll give you 10-1 that he continues to sabotage any efforts to play the 2020 season.