Trump and Biden Make Politics Out of College Football Shutdowns

Big Ten Conference continues to focus on is the health and safety of our student-athletes, said Warren, who became commissioner in January.

Here’s whats happening as the world of sports slowly comes back to life:

• • Baseball plans to hold its playoff games at four stadiums in Southern California and Texas. The World Series will be held at the Texas Rangers new ballpark.
  • N.F.L. teams have spent years trying to create over-the-top entertainment for fans inside stadiums. This year, they’ll just be trying to cover up echoes from empty seats.
  • September Saturdays at Penn State are usually the apex of a week of hype. Now, as at other college football destinations, the approach of autumn has been unusually quiet there.

Warren would not describe any assistance that Trump offered. But some college sports executives across the country have been wary of accepting federal aid. Warren said that Trump refrained from explicit pressure during a call. He said the call lasted about 15 minutes and was a very professional, respectful conversation.

Its fair to say that he has a desire to have Big Ten sports return to competition, said Warren. Warren recalled describing to the president the web of considerations that the league must resolve before holding games.

Trump took to Twitter within hours and declared that the league was on the one yard line. Almost two weeks later, the conferences public posture is unchanged.

Clay Travis, a sports commentator who recently interviewed the president and has long sowed doubts about the risks of the virus, said he believed Trumps interest in the Big Ten could be linked to the dissent within the conference.  This include protests and litigation, that had been absent after other leagues canceled football.

The Big Ten wants to play and not playing has provoked a great deal of rancor, he said. I’d be far more concerned about the Pac-12 being canceled and no one caring than I would be about the Big Ten canceling and politicians getting involved.

The Biden campaign has sought to fault Trump with an internet video tailored to four battleground states where college football has been postponed. Each featuring an empty stadium shot at a flagship school, and concluding with the claim that Trump put America on the sidelines. The campaign has also deployed prominent athletes to attack Trump for his response to the virus and the cancellation of sports.read more