President Trump this morning took credit for helping the Big Ten return to the football field this year, and the White House later this afternoon claimed Trump's Sept. 1 call to Big Ten Commissioner Kevin Warren was "probably the most pivotal phone [call] in the Big Ten this year." A senior White House administrator said of Trump, “He was honored and humbled to be able to make a difference" (CBSSPORTS.com, 9/16). However, it is “unclear if the president's advocacy or offers of assistance affected the conference's decision” (NPR.org, 9/16).
One Big Ten university president said, "President Trump had nothing to do with our decision and did not impact the deliberations. In fact, when his name came up, it was a negative because no one wanted this to be political" (NBCNEWS.com, 9/16). Meanwhile, Wisconsin AD Barry Alvarez, who was on the conference's return-to-play committee, “isn't sure” how much Trump’s call with Warren “had to do with the league's decision to begin the football season.” Alvarez: “He drew attention to Big 10 football and had a solution. How much that had to do with us being back on the field, I don't know that answer" (WKOW.com, 9/16).
