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Michigan OL says Jim Harbaugh mentioned possibility of October start date to team
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Michigan head coach Jim Harbaugh isn’t giving up on the prospect of a fall football schedule in the B1G. After a phone call between President Donald Trump and B1G commissioner Kevin Warren, there’s a renewed sense of hope in Ann Arbor.
While speaking with reporters via Zoom, offensive tackle Ryan Hayes said that, on Wednesday, Harbaugh mentioned the idea of an October start date to his team. It’s still unclear whether or not the B1G will revisit its decision to postpone fall sports and the college football season until spring.
Hayes said that Harbaugh’s comment was “to give us motivation,” and that the team is “going to keep working hard, we’re going to be prepared.” According to Zach Shaw of 247Sports, Hayes said he would be ready to “play as soon as possible.”
Per OT Ryan Hayes, Jim Harbaugh told the team at practice yesterday that they could be playing in October. Used it as motivation: "We're going to keep working hard, we're going to be prepared."
Asked if he'd want to play as soon as October, Hayes didn't blink when he said yes.
— Zach Shaw (@_ZachShaw) September 3, 2020
Earlier this week, Dan Patrick reported that the B1G was mulling an Oct. 10 start date — which would allow the conference to compete for a spot in the College Football Playoff at season’s end. However, Nebraska athletic director Bill Moos denied that rumor, saying that a spring model with a January start date is still the primary target.
The idea of starting the season around Thanksgiving has also generated some momentum, but right now, the primary start dates being discussed are either Oct. 10 or early January.
We’ll see if the B1G presidents reconsider their decision.
Dustin grew up in the heart of Big Ten country and has been in sports media since 2010. He has been covering Big Ten football since 2014. You can follow him on Twitter: @SchutteCFB