Riley worried that continuing to follow health and safety protocols and being vigilant when not on school is going to be crucial to whether college football can make it through a season without disruptions.
” I believe its a sense of reality for us and what were going to be up versus,” Riley stated. “And I believe what were up versus is something thats achievable, but … how well can this infection be mitigated when players and staff members are not in these facilities? Everyone wants the 100 percent, safe thing and if you dont have a true bubble, thats not possible.
” I see a clear vision of how we get there, however weve got to do it and this highlights how important it is. It might end up being one of the figuring out factors of the season, if we have the ability to play the season and finish the season or not, and weve all got to do our part.”
Oklahoma coach Lincoln Riley stated Saturday that his group had nine gamers test positive for COVID-19 from the teams newest round of testing on Friday.
The screening was following the teams return from a break that Riley offered the group on Aug. 8, enabling the gamers to go house after it ended up being evident that Oklahomas set up Aug. 29 season opener would be pressed back into September and the unpredictability that surrounded the future of the college football season last weekend.
” Disappointed about the news, clearly,” Riley said. “Weve done such a significant job really this entire time. Certainly, you understand when you give your gamers a long time, there is threat in that.”
2 RelatedIn addition to the 9 positives, Riley said “a reasonably small number” are also being separated due to the fact that of contact tracing. He said theyve had the ability to trace back every one of the positives to “community-based infections.” He said when he gave the team time off, “over 75% of our group didnt leave Norman.”
” The area that our team has got to do a much better job on when were not here,” Riley stated, referring to the team facilities. “And weve known permanently that was going to be the significant issue.”
The Sooners have actually been one of the design programs nationally when it has actually pertained to managing coronavirus spread within its team. Riley was among the last to bring his group back to school for voluntary exercises, picking to do so July 1, two weeks after the Big 12 permitted teams to do so.
After revealing 14 positive tests in the initial round of screening when the team returned for July 1 exercises, the Sooners only had one positive gamer test in the next 5 weeks, including a four-week span from July 8-29 with absolutely no positives. From July 1 to Aug. 8, the Sooners conducted 700 gamer tests, resulting in just 15 positives.
Riley stated he offered the team time off since he didnt desire training camp going on too long after the modification in schedule.
” It d be pretty easy for me to say today that I regret it,” Riley said of his choice to let the group return house. “I also feel like if I keep a team pinned up here for a six- or seven-week training school I most likely would be sorry for that too.”
Riley, in keeping in mind that the two largest rounds of favorable tests his team has actually had were the outcome of the team returning to school from home, highlighted the stress and anxiety that comes with a crucial obstacle college football has to clear when it comes to having a season: the return of regular trainees to college campuses across the country.
” I think thats the issue of every college football coach in the nation right now,” Riley said. “How is that handled, since you understand the numbers game ends up being far more difficult.”
It likewise reinforced Rileys confidence in the schools procedures, given how much theyve minimized positive tests when the Sooners have actually performed arranged team activities.
Oklahoma coach Lincoln Riley said Saturday that his players require to do a better job of safeguarding themselves from COVID-19 when they arent at group facilities. Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images” Its an opportunity for us to continue to discover to educate ourselves since the truth is this isnt the NBA, this is college football,” Riley said. “We can try to reduce this danger as much as we possibly desire, but were never ever going to remove them 100 percent. We do not have a bubble. Therefore we get that were all gon na have to continue to work to do a better task on all accounts. Were still very confident in the plan that weve had.”
The Sooners have been practicing in masks throughout training school, something Riley stated theyll continue to do. He stated theyve experimented with various types based upon gamer feedback and that if it depended on him, they would wear them in games.
” We have not received much assistance on … whats going to be needed [for video games], however if quit to us, were going to have our faces covered, some way, somehow,” Riley stated. “Because, once again, the health of the student-athlete being concern No. 1 and theres no replacement for having a mask or something that serves as a mask on at any point. Thats why weve been stressing it both on the practice field and anywhere else.”
2 RelatedIn addition to the 9 positives, Riley said “a fairly small number” are also being isolated due to the fact that of contact tracing. He said when he offered the team time off, “over 75% of our team didnt leave Norman.”
After announcing 14 favorable tests in the initial round of screening when the team returned for July 1 workouts, the Sooners just had one favorable gamer test in the next 5 weeks, consisting of a four-week period from July 8-29 with no positives., however if provided up to us, were going to have our faces covered, some method, somehow,” Riley stated.” I think its a sense of truth for us and what were going to be up against,” Riley stated.
