President Biden said “God willing” there will be a full stadium for the next Super Bowl – and that federal guidelines for reopening schools amid the COVID-19 pandemic could be unveiled on Wednesday.
During an interview excerpt that aired Sunday during CBS’s pre-game show for Super Bowl LV, Biden said it was his “hope and expectation” that fans would fill the stands next year.
“God willing, in a year we will be able to celebrate it as always,” he said.
The NFL has said only 25,000 people will watch Sunday’s championship in person at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Florida, along with 30,000 fan cuts.
Biden said he had told his coronavirus “team” about Thursday’s offer from NFL commissioner Roger Goodell to use the 32 professional football stadiums as mass vaccination sites, but did not say which (if n ‘there) would be put into service.
Asked by CBS Evening News anchor Norah O’Donnell about the impact of school closures on the nation’s children, Biden said, “I think it’s time for schools to open safely.”
The president cited concerns that include “ventilation systems” in classrooms, but said Dr. Rochelle Walensky, director of the Federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, would publish safety guidelines “as early as Wednesday.”
As for the big game between the reigning Kansas City Chiefs champion and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Biden said Tom Brady of the Bucs, a six-time Super Bowl winner, was “obviously … a great quarterback.”
But he also said Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes “seems to have a lot of potential.”
Asked if that meant he would think he would win Kansas City, Biden replied, “I didn’t say that.”
“I think they’re both great quarterbacks.”
The 4-1 / 2 minute excerpt from the interview – the first that Biden has given to a TV anchor – was one of several that CBS has aired since Friday evening.
Another will air Monday on CBS Evening News, O’Donnell said.