As part of the league's return-to-competition task force, the medical committee made a lengthy presentation to the steering committee of eight presidents and chancellors on Saturday afternoon. Sources said that league officials have decided to present the league's plan to return to play – medical, scheduling and television – formally to the full Big Ten Council of Presidents and Chancellors (COPC), sources told Yahoo Sports. That presentation is expected to take place on Sunday and culminate eventually with a vote, but that COPC vote isn't guaranteed to take place directly after the expected presentation on Sunday.
Ohio State team doctor Jim Borchers, a Bellbrook native and Alter graduate, is the co-chair of the medical subcommittee.
ESPN reported he is “a significant figure in the return to play saga” and that his voice will be among the important ones Big Ten leaders will hear from Sunday.
Remember, the Big Ten's doctors were in agreement Aug. 11 not to proceed forward. What has changed in past month? Borchers, other lead physicians, infectious disease experts, sports medicine chiefs are part of the group talking to the full council of presidents Sunday.
— Adam Rittenberg (@ESPNRittenberg) September 12, 2020
Borchers appeared with Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine when Ohio high school sports were approved and spoke about the importance of the ability for the community to come together for sports competitions while respecting the necessity of respecting COVID-19 precautions.
“When we are able to provide our athletes with a healthy environment and are able to have them follow the basic behaviors that we’ve all been asked to follow around this virus, which is appropriate social distancing and good hygiene, (wearing a) face mask, and following proper procedures in and around sport facilities and around conducting athletics, that makes a large difference for us,” Borchers said.
“When the community does not have a healthy environment, when we see a large infectivity rate, we have found that it’s more difficult and we struggle sometimes to have athletics and organized sports. So I think that is probably first and foremost, the most important thing. And I think the second thing we’ve known, and I think everyone knows is just how important athletics and sport is to our mental health and wellbeing and how important it is that we all join in together to allow sports to occur.”
If a return to play is approved, it could come as early as Oct. 17, which is seen as necessary to allow the conference’s teams to play enough games to be considered for the College Football Playoff, but November or January start dates are also on the table reportedly.
All-American Ohio State lineman declares for NFL Draft https://t.co/m4sgRPMlkm
— Marcus Hartman (@marcushartman) September 11, 2020
Last month, the Big Ten’s leader voted to “postpone” fall sports seasons because of “uncertainty” surrounding the state of the coronavirus pandemic.
That touched off protests from players' parents and questions from some of the league’s coaches, including Ryan Day of Ohio State.
The Pac-12 has also postponed its fall sports, but Big 12 and ACC teams began playing this weekend with the SEC scheduled to hit the field in two weeks.
The University of Cincinnati is scheduled to start its season next weekend, and the Ohio high school football season is in Week 3.
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