The Big Ten Postpones Football, Other Fall Sports Over Coronavirus Concerns

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The Big Ten, one of the so-called Power Five NCAA conferences, is postponing fall sports because of the coronavirus.

Charlie Neibergall/AP

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Charlie Neibergall/AP

Trump tweets

On Monday afternoon, President Trump lent his support to college athletes, coaches and fans who are urging conference officials to allow football games to go ahead.

«Play College Football, Trump said in one tweet.

«The student-athletes have been working too hard for their season to be cancelled, Trump said in another tweet that used the hashtag «WeWantToPlay.

The latter was a retweet of Clemson quarterback Trevor Lawrence, one of several top players who are expressing their desire to take the field — and who are calling for measures they say would provide safety and equity for players.

The measures include establishing universal health and safety procedures to protect college athletes among all NCAA conferences, allowing those who don’t want to play to opt out, and guaranteeing eligibility whether a player chooses to play or opt out.

The student-athletes have been working too hard for their season to be cancelled. #WeWantToPlay https://t.co/lI3CCKZ4ID

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) August 10, 2020

The Big Ten announced its decision one day after the Mountain West Conference, which includes Colorado State and Boise State, announced «the indefinite postponement of all scheduled fall sports contests and MW championship events citing virus concerns.

Over the weekend, the Mid-American Conference announced it was postponing «all scheduled fall contests, as well as MAC championships, due to the concerns related to the COVID-19 global pandemic.

The MAC Council of Presidents vote was unanimous.

However, MAC officials said the hope is to hold competition from the fall sports in the spring semester of 2021, including for football, men’s and women’s cross-country, men’s and women’s soccer, and women’s volleyball.