Ohio State president Dr. Kristina Johnson is still hopeful of a fall season in the Big Ten
The Big Ten continues to be awash in rumors of a return to play this fall. Ohio State president Dr. Kristina Johnson isn’t pouring any water on those flames.
On Tuesday, Johnson spoke with the local NBC affiliate in Columbus, asserting her belief that football can still be played in the conference this fall.
“I think with the kind of things we’ve learned about how we can have what’s called ‘clean field,’ with players on the field that are negative, that we can be playing football,” Johnson said.
Johnson stressed the importance of returning to football safely, which is a process the Big Ten is working through.
“We want to make sure that our athletes get a shot because they’ve worked really hard and they deserve a shot to play,” Johnson said. “At the same time, we want to make sure that they’re safe.”
Ohio State’s president was one of three Big Ten presidents who voted in favor of a fall season
When it comes to the Big Ten reversing course and moving forward with a fall season, Johnson is “hopeful.”
Take that statement with a grain of salt though.
“Fall is a long period of time. Fall goes until Dec. 20, right?” Johnson said.
According to Johnson, the Big Ten is working on plans to return in “winter, early spring, late fall.”
That’s a pretty vague timetable that could have a Big Ten start date well down the line.
It’s noteworthy that comments hinting at a fall return for Big Ten football are coming from a Big Ten president, as opposed to the reports of coaches and athletic directors discussing the possibility of a Thanksgiving start. After all, the university presidents are the ones who canceled the fall season. They’re the ones with the power to bring it back.
Having said that, Johnson was one of the three Big Ten presidents who voted originally to push forward with the season. Her vote isn’t one of the 11 that needs to change.
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