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Lincoln Riley cautions on trying to get ahead of the COVID-19 curve

By Chip Rouse

ATLANTA, GEORGIA - DECEMBER 28: Head coach Lincoln Riley of the Oklahoma Sooners reacts to a play during the game against the LSU Tigers in the Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on December 28, 2019 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Carmen Mandato/Getty Images)
ATLANTA, GEORGIA - DECEMBER 28: Head coach Lincoln Riley of the Oklahoma Sooners reacts to a play during the game against the LSU Tigers in the Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on December 28, 2019 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Carmen Mandato/Getty Images) /
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While many are expressing extreme optimism there will be a college football season in the fall, one of those many, Oklahoma football coach Lincoln Riley, cautions about getting too far ahead of ourselves in our preparation.

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Riley was one of the early voices talking about how by September the world is going to need football, but he also emphasized the importance of not getting ahead of ourselves in our efforts to return to some form of normalcy from the nationwide coronavirus threat.

Speaking out about the intentions of some coaches to bring their players back together in May and early June to initiate preparations for the new season, Riley said on Thursday he believes that is a giant mistake.

“It’s one of the most ridiculous things I’ve ever heard,” he said in a Zoom call with reporters who cover Oklahoma and the Big 12, including Ryan Aber of The (Oklahoma City) Oklahoman.. “We’ve got to be patient. We’ll get one good shot at it to bring them (the players) back at the right time when we’re prepared and know as much about this as we possibly can.”

“Every day early that we bring them in is a day we could have gotten better.” —OU head coach Lincoln Riley

“Every day early that we bring them in is a day that we could have gotten better,” Riley said. “It’s a day that our testing equipment and test capabilities get better.”

Riley said over a month ago that if players are allowed back on campus by summer, Oklahoma could be ready for a season with 15 or 20 practice days.

"“I believe if we do it right and don’t get ahead of ourselves that we will be able to play a season,” He said, in whatever form or time of year that takes."

Riley said he confers daily with athletic director Joe Castiglione about safely reopening the campus facilities and bringing the players back to campus, the timing of those events and what it will need to look like when it happens. The ability to test will be a key condition, he said.

Riley said he is in no rush to get his staff and the players back together.

Next. Four things Lincoln Riley has done that Bob Stoops didn't. dark

“It’s our job as football coaches to look way, way beyond what’s competitively (best) for our team,” he said, adding that the desire we have to do everything we can to help our team win puts us in conflict with the bigger picture.

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