FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Monday, August 17th, 2020

NCAA CHIEF MEDICAL OFFICER DR. BRIAN HAINLINE ON POTENTIAL ‘PARADIGM SHIFT’ FOR FALL SPORTS; ROCKIES’ CHARLIE BLACKMON ON MLB SEASON — QUOTES FROM THE RICH EISEN SHOW ON NBCSN

“If they really do emerge and they become widespread and available, well that’s a paradigm shift.” – Dr. Brian Hainline on how new Point-of-Care COVID-19 testing could help college athletics

“I do think you’re going to really earn it if you want this World Series. You’re going to have to play multiple series in the playoffs against good teams.” – Charlie Blackmon on this season’s expanded MLB playoffs

“That could be a January, February schedule playing in domed stadiums with the NFL Combine moved back, and the NFL Draft moved back to accommodate those kids.” – Albert Breer on possible college football and NFL offseason schedule changes

STAMFORD, Conn. – August 17, 2020 – The Rich Eisen Show returned to NBCSN today as host Rich Eisen was joined on today’s episode by:

    • NCAA Chief Medical Officer Brian Hainline
    • Colorado Rockies outfielder Charlie Blackmon
    • MMQB senior writer Albert Breer

 

Beginning next Monday, Aug. 24, The Rich Eisen Show will also stream live on Peacock, which will become the show’s exclusive video home on Oct. 5.

Following are highlights from The Rich Eisen Show on NBCSN:

Dr. Brian Hainline on conferences making different decisions on fall sports: “With a new pandemic, a new disease, you have people looking at the same science, but they look at it somewhat differently…It’s not just a black and white, the scientists say…It’s also how we interpret what the scientists are saying.”

Hainline on if the SEC, ACC and BIG 12 have the ability to test enough to have a football season: “Not if it were today, there’s no way anyone could if it were today…I think what the other conferences may be holding off for is that a different type of test is going to emerge, and indeed we saw it this weekend that a new saliva-direct test has come about…I think some other of what we call Point-of-Care tests, meaning you get the results back immediately and you aren’t using scarce resources in other labs, I think those are going to emerge. If they really do emerge and they become widespread and available, well that’s a paradigm shift.”

Charlie Blackmon on the competitiveness of the shortened MLB season: “I still think it’s a very competitive season. Also, we changed the playoff format so that more teams will make it. So, we’ve addressed that short season to allow more teams into the playoffs, so I do think you’re going to really earn it if you want this World Series. You’re going to have to play multiple series in the playoffs against good teams.”

Blackmon on playing without fans in attendance: “At first it was really different…It’s a super intimate game now. There’s no ambient noise…Your teammates are the only people screaming and it’s more like you’re just playing for your teammates instead of for the fans. Everything should be about the fans, but if there’s one thing that’s also important, it’s the teammates you’re playing for.”

Albert Breer on the impact of college football’s schedule on the NFL’s offseason: “The NFL wants to help college football…The people in college football who are working on this…they’re working on a plan that would work for everybody if they can’t play in the fall. That could be a January, February schedule playing in domed stadiums with the NFL Combine moved back, and the NFL Draft moved back to accommodate those kids…I can tell you the NFL is amenable to trying to work with college football.”

Breer on if the NFL will create a committee to decide in-season COVID-19 scenarios: “(Teams) want to know the rules beforehand…Things have changed so quickly and things have evolved over the last few months to the point where I do think the NFL wants to maintain some level of flexibility…As of right now, it feels to me like they may be leaning more towards that committee approach.”

–NBC SPORTS–