Lincoln Riley and his staff making best of the unique circumstances

Head coach Lincoln Riley acknowledges that he has not thought too far ahead about whether there will be Oklahoma football — or a 2020 college season — come September.

Riley and his coaching staff, like the rest of us, are dealing with many uncertainties right now: When will things return to some form of normalcy, what will that look like and what changes or adjustments will be required.

The one thing we do know, with some certainty, is that things will be different.

At present, however, with the effects of the coronavirus outbreak changing hourly and daily, the immediate focus has been caring for the health and safety those associated with the Sooner football program — the coaching staff and their families as well as the players, most all of whom are currently off campus because of restrictions in place to thwart the coronavirus spread.

There are some who are seriously doubting if there will be a 2020 season in college football. Part of the thinking behind that is threat of a rebound of the coronavirus threat in the fall when the weather starts to turn colder. Health experts have expressed the concern that the cycle of the virus outbreak could be seasonal.

In a conference call with reporters earlier this week, Riley said,

"“If the players aren’t allowed back on campus by June 1, it will be very telling about which way the situation is trending.”"

Riley said he can’t imagine a fall without football. “I feel by September the world is going to need football,” he said.

Regardless, it is fairly evident that the general environment for college football, and many other things, is going to be different from the way we have operated in the past. There could very well be limitations on the ways a team can assemble and practice and the amount and form of fan participation on game days.

Normally at this time, we would have 20 hours a week with the players, Riley said, but for obvious reasons that is not happening. The Big 12 on Sunday issued guidelines allowing its member schools to conduct two hours of virtual meetings each week and to send out strength and conditioning plans to the student-athletes and limited equipment and apparel.

It’s difficult enough not being around and able to work one-on-one and as position groups with the players. Aside from that, perhaps an even bigger impact of all the cornonavirus-related cancellations and social distancing requirement is on recruiting.

This would ordinarily be one of the busier times in the year for recruiting, with on-campus visits, in-home visits and the annual spring game, which serves as a natural offseason attraction and a prime recruiting opportunity.

"“The spring game has become a big, big deal for us from a recruiting standpoint,” Riley said."

“We had probably as many prospects as we’ve ever had — probably more that were lined up this spring — whether it was unofficially for a practice or officially for the spring game. You hate to miss that,” he said, “esecially for the guys who haven’t been here yet. That part definitely feels different.”

While FaceTime and phone call conversations were always part of the recruiting process, they are even more so today with all the health guidance and stay-at-home governmental directives.

Riley said we are all going to have to be open-minded and wait and see how this thing plays out.

If players are allowed back on campus by summer, he said, the Sooners could be ready for a season with 15 to 20 practice days. The games might look a lot like spring scrimmages to start, but they will improve over time.