Gov. Tom Wolf isn't going to change his mind.

There's not going to be a magic statement, or some declaration of a irrefutable truth from the PIAA that's going to sway him.

There's not going to be an aha moment that's going to prompt Wolf to say, 'Oh, since you put it that way, yeah, I recommend you do play sports this fall.”

There's no epiphany coming.

It's just not going to happen.

So, why even try?

The PIAA is wasting time and energy trying to get Wolf to budge.

Because, he won't.

And, don't forget, it isn't just Wolf's recommendation, er, strong recommendation, that sports be postponed in the state until at least Jan. 1 because of the coronavirus pandemic.

It's also the recommendation of the state departments of Health and Education.

Wolf, though, is the one who wields the hammer. He can end sports for the rest of the calendar year with one sentence if he so wishes.

Since Wolf matter-of-factly dropped the bombshell at the end of his press conference Aug. 6 that he recommended (and later strongly recommended) high school and recreational sports be scuttled for the rest of the year, there's been fretting and hand-wringing and borderline panic about the future.

Some of it is warranted. Some of it has been way over the top.

I feel for these student-athletes. What's happening isn't fair. Then again, it's a good teaching moment because sometimes (well, many times) in life unfair things are going to happen. How you deal with it is what's important.

Everyone involved has set a poor example for these student-athletes.

Wolf's aloofness has rubbed many people the wrong way.

The PIAA sent him a long letter early this week, and at his press conference Thursday, Wolf said he had received it, but hadn't read it. He seems almost annoyed he has to deal with the inconsequential issue of high school and recreational athletics, forgetting the fact that it is very important to a lot of people.

He keeps insisting shuttering sports is only a recommendation — and it may very well be — but his words drip with insincerity. It's almost as if he's daring the PIAA to call his bluff.

The PIAA isn't exactly handling it well, either, going to DEFCON 1 and calling an emergency meeting hours after Wolf's statement.

A measured response would have been, “OK, it's just a recommendation. We've been doing what we've been doing with the safety protocols, and it's largely worked, so nothing changes. Thanks for your recommendation, but we have it under control. We're going to keep playing.”

No two-week delay. No blinking.

Force Wolf's hand.

And that's what needs to happen. Wolf and the PIAA need to stop punting the ball to each other.

It sounds like a broken record, but again I scream, SOMEONE NEEDS TO MAKE A DECISION.

That's what these organizations like the PIAA are there for — to make the hard choices.

That's what the governor is there for — to make the hard decisions.

Someone, make the hard decision to either play or not.

No more saber-rattling.

Yay or nay.

Mike Kilroy is a staff writer for the Butler Eagle.