I know many here have criticized Aresco in the past but by and large he's done a good job of helping to place the conference as a whole into position to succeed. He's an effective advocate, he chooses his words carefully, and he uses logic to our advantage.
https://www.capitalgazette.com/sports/na...story.html
“We felt a decision like that would be premature,” Aresco said. “Our medical experts have continued to tell us it’s safer to play then not to play. They feel there is no compelling reason not to play.”
It was suggested by many in the national media that new concerns about the impact COVID-19 can have on internal organs, especially the heart, were a game-changer for Big Ten and Pac-12 officials. Foremost among the potential side effects was myocarditis, which is inflammation of the heart muscle and is usually caused by a viral infection. A severe case can weaken the heart, which can lead to heart failure, abnormal heartbeat, and sudden death.
“Our medical people have looked closely at the myocarditis issue. In fact, they’ve been tracking it for months,” Aresco said. “Certainly, that is something we take very seriously. It’s not a common condition.”
Aresco quoted the response from the AAC chief epidemiologist.
“His exact words were the ‘vast, vast majority of people that would develop this condition would recover,‘” said Aresco, emphasizing the expert used the word “vast” twice. “Trust me, if our medical professionals told us it was not safe to play, we would not go forward.”
Aresco reiterated a comment he’s made to other media outlets in the wake of this week’s events:
“It’s easier to shut down than to try to push forward.”
“We need to have the courage of our convictions. I’m not concerned about optics, I’m concerned about doing the right thing,” he said.