Big 12 schools all have "announced their intentions in recent weeks to have students on campus this fall," meaning if they "follow through, the possibility exists that football can start as originally scheduled," according to Brunt & Hawkins of the AP. NCAA Chief Medical Officer Dr. Brian Hainline has said that widespread testing will be "crucial to having football in the fall," but he also has "expressed cautious optimism that college sports could be played" by then. Brunt & Hawkins noted while Big 12 schools "might agree on their hopes of opening on time, playing non-conference opponents brings extra challenges." Kansas AD Jeff Long said that he is "preparing for football season to start on time, but emphasized everything is fluid." Brunt & Hawkins noted the school "plans to have on-campus classes in the fall but is also working on contingency plans" (AP, 5/6).
SEC FOLLOWING SUIT: The AP's John Zenor noted all but one of the 14 schools in the SEC have "indicated they plan to reopen their college campuses for the fall semester," as South Carolina and Tennessee yesterday "became the latest schools in the nation's top football conference to announce their plans." Vanderbilt "hasn't announced its plans for the fall." SEC officials "continue to strike an optimistic tone along with their member schools." The conference in a statement yesterday said, "Our current focus is on preparing to play the 2020 football season as scheduled. If it is determined that we must pivot to another solution in the interest of public health, we'll do so at the appropriate time" (AP, 5/6).
BIG TEN RELYING ON EXPERTS: Big Ten Commissioner Kevin Warren reiterated he is "relying heavily on our medical experts” to guide him as to when college sports could return. The conference's infectious disease committee has “daily calls with our athletic directors,” as well as “regular communications with all of our chancellors and presidents.” Warren re-stated that he hopes to make a decision about fall sports in the next six to eight weeks, but said, "If we don’t have school in the fall, we don’t have sports in the fall.” Warren: “I’m really excited to be in this position at this time because the decisions that we will make will dictate the next 10, 20, 50 years of college athletics, and maybe even how universities operate from that standpoint” (“Power Lunch,” CNBC, 5/6).
TOO EARLY TO KNOW ANYTHING: Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine yesterday talked to ESPN's Paul Finebaum about the potential return of college football this fall, and he said, "We love football in Ohio, but it’s much too early to answer the question.” Ohio State is scheduled to host Bowling Green to start the season on Sept. 5, but DeWine did not predict what the game would look like, if it takes place. He said, "Anybody who tells you they know is making it up. I’m not going to make it up.” He said it could be possible to figure out a way to get fans into stadiums, but noted, “It’s all about distance. It’s all about keeping people apart from one another” (“The Paul Finebaum Show,” ESPN Radio, 5/6).
