Oklahoma's Lincoln Riley on Playing Without Fans: We'll Play in the Parking Lot
Apr 11, 2020
Oklahoma head coach Lincoln Riley speaks at an NCAA college football news conference in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., Friday, Dec. 28, 2018. Alabama plays Oklahoma in the Orange Bowl on Saturday, Dec. 29. (AP Photo/Joe Skipper)
Oklahoma Sooners head coach Lincoln Riley doesn't seem to mind the possibility of playing football games in an empty stadium.
In an interview with Mark Packer of SiriusXM Radio, Riley said the Sooners will "play in the parking lot" if they have to:
Given the uncertainty around the coronavirus pandemic, Big 12 commissioner Bob Bowlsbytold reporters there's a chance games could be played this fall without fans in stadiums.
Bowlsby noted it's "hard to forecast those things" at this point.
The notion of playing in empty stadiums has been met with resistance from some prominent figures in the college football world.
Notre Dame athletic director Jack Swarbrick told ESPN'sAdam Rittenberg he couldn't "see a model where we play, at least any extended number of games, in facilities where we don't have fans."
Ohio State athletic director Gene Smithtold reportersFriday that he is also struggling with the concept of empty-stadium games.
"When I first heard that, I said, 'OK, that could work.' But I figured if we don't have fans in the stands, we've determined it's not safe for them in a gathering environment," Smith said. "So why would it be safe for the players?"
Oklahoma is scheduled to open the 2020 season on Sept. 5 at Oklahoma Memorial Stadium against Missouri State.
Oklahoma's Lincoln Riley: 'By September, the World Is Going to Need Football'
Mar 31, 2020
Oklahoma head coach Lincoln Riley works before the first half of the Peach Bowl NCAA semifinal college football playoff game against LSU, Saturday, Dec. 28, 2019, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/John Amis)
Oklahoma Sooners head coach Lincoln Riley hopes football can be something of a healing force for the country and world when it eventually emerges from the coronavirus pandemic.
"I feel by September, the world is going to need football," he told reporters. "Hopefully, I think a lot of that will be determined by our country's response to this and how serious every single person takes it. Hopefully we, as a country, can do the best we can."
Riley is not the only head coach of a football powerhouse who has stressed the importance of taking the coronavirus seriously and doing what is necessary for public health.
LSU coach Ed Orgeron, Alabama coach Nick Saban and Ohio State coach Ryan Day are among those who have issued public statements asking fans to stay safe and do their part in fighting the spread of COVID-19:
As for Riley, he didn't seem particularly concerned about the loss of spring practices even though there is a potential quarterback battle between redshirt freshman Spencer Rattler and redshirt sophomore Tanner Mordecai.
"It just doesn't give me anxiety right now," he said. "These guys, I've been in the meeting room with them for a long time. I've seen them play, seen them practice, seen how they prepare and just getting a feel for their knowledge of what we're doing. I've got a lot of confidence in those two."
The Sooners made the College Football Playoff last season but lost to the eventual national champion LSU Tigers in the semifinals.
They have made the playoff in each of Riley's three years at the helm with quarterbacks Baker Mayfield, Kyler Murray and Jalen Hurts but have yet to win the national championship.
Oklahoma's Lincoln Riley: COVID-19 Rules Haven't Been Equal for Power 5 Teams
Mar 28, 2020
Oklahoma head coach Lincoln Riley speaks with an offical during the first half of the Peach Bowl NCAA semifinal college football playoff game against LSU, Saturday, Dec. 28, 2019, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/John Amis)
Oklahoma football coach Lincoln Riley is ready for the NCAA to step in with unilateral guidelines for Power Five conference teams to operate under as the coronavirus pandemic continues to spread and challenge states and programs differently.
Speaking in a radio interview from Oklahoma, Riley worried about conferences setting different restrictions in response to COVID-19, creating an uneven playing field for schools around the country.
"Our conference has been more stringent on it," Riley said of the Big 12, according to the Oklahoman's Ryan Aber. "We've not been able to do virtual meetings. Our players have not been able to come into our weight rooms even on an individual basis. We haven't been able to send them equipment, whereas a lot of other conferences like the ACC right now, they've been able to do all those things. That hasn’t been a positive."
Riley wasn't decrying any sort of strategic advantages so much as making sure programs are all doing their parts to limit the spread of the pathogen. The coach noted even with spring football practices and exhibitions canceled, there is plenty of time in fall camp for teams to prepare for the season with more than 20 practices still scheduled.
The coach said from a health and safety standpoint, spring football isn't necessary given current events.
As far as what the football calendar will look like in the fall, Riley is still unsure. While he hopes games won't be impacted, the Sooners coach was more focused on a return to normalcy and making sure the nation is safe from the virus before worrying about sports.
"It's all going to be predetermined by our nation's response to this virus and how seriously people take it," Riley said. "Hopefully our nation will continue to get more serious about this and respond in a positive way."
In the meantime, conferences continue to set their own rules regarding what's permissible as the pandemic continues to spread. Until the NCAA steps in with new compliance recommendations, it'll be tough for programs to get on the same page.
Oklahoma RB Trey Sermon Enters Transfer Portal as Graduate Transfer
Mar 14, 2020
Oklahoma running back Trey Sermon runs during the first half of an NCAA college football game against Kansas Saturday, Oct. 5, 2019, in Lawrence, Kan. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)
Running back Trey Sermon is transferring after spending the last three years playing at Oklahoma.
Sermon, who has already graduated, announced on Twitter he will enter the transfer portal:
As a graduate transfer, Sermon will be immediately eligible to play at his new school next season.
Oklahoma's current stable of running backs features Kennedy Brooks, T.J. Pledger, Rhamondre Stevenson, Marcus Major and Seth McGowan.
Sermon was Oklahoma's starting running back in 2018, leading the team in carries (164) and rushing touchdowns (13), and he finished third in rushing yards (947).
Last season saw Sermon supplanted in the starting lineup by Kennedy Brooks. Quarterback Jalen Hurts was also used heavily in the running game, leading the Sooners with 233 carries and 1,298 yards.
Sermon also suffered a knee injury on Nov. 9 against Iowa State that kept him out for the final three games of the regular season and Big 12 Championship Game. He finished 2019 with 385 rushing yards and four touchdowns on 54 carries.
CeeDee Lamb, Jalen Hurts Among Highlights at Oklahoma Pro Day Ahead of NFL Draft
Mar 11, 2020
INDIANAPOLIS, IN - FEBRUARY 27: Wide receiver CeeDee Lamb of Oklahoma runs the 40-yard dash during the NFL Scouting Combine at Lucas Oil Stadium on February 27, 2020 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images)
Wednesday was a crucial day in the 2020 NFL Draft process with a hoard of scouts from virtually every team making their way to Oklahoma for the Sooners' pro day, highlighted by the on-field activities of CeeDee Lamb and Jalen Hurts.
Per Tyler Palmateer of the Norman News, Oklahoma officially announced 55 scouts from 30 different NFL teams were at Wednesday's pro day.
Lamb, a 2019 consensus All-American, was the marquee attraction for scouts. The 20-year-old is Oklahoma's highest-ranked draft prospect this year, coming in at No. 12 on Matt Miller's latest big board. He didn't disappoint, showing off his rare combination of athleticism and body control on this end-zone catch:
This catch echoes Lamb's spectacular leaping grab at the NFL Scouting Combine that generated a round of applause from the people in attendance and gasps from the NFL Network announcers:
It was fun standing near Kyler Murray when he was giving a few pointers to CeeDee Lamb between his reps. Lamb told me their bond is “unbreakable” and he’s already taken so much advice from Murray during this process and during his career that he’ll always listen to him.
The Arizona Cardinals own the No. 8 overall pick, leaving a strong possibility that Lamb will be on the board if that's the direction head coach Kliff Kingsbury wants to go.
As for the quarterback Lamb caught passes from in 2019, Hurts had an efficient day throwing the ball on an estimated 69 attempts:
Hurts is done. By my count, he went 62/69 with three drops and three overthrows.
By comparison, Baker Mayfield went 62/70 and Kyler Murray went 61/67 at their respective pro days. I will say Hurts’ throwing workout was much different.
The Scouting Combine turned into a terrific showcase for Hurts, who ranked tied for first among all quarterbacks in broad jump (125"), second among all quarterbacks in the 40-yard dash (4.59 seconds) and tied for fourth in vertical jump (35").
After that showing, Miller noted that Hurts left Indianapolis in the mix to be a top-50 pick in April.
If there's a head coach in the NFL who believes in Hurts' talent, it wouldn't be a surprise to see him come off the board early in Day 2 of the draft.
Another potential second-day pick from Oklahoma is Neville Gallimore. He is ranked No. 63 overall and the No. 9 interior defensive lineman on Miller's current big board. The Canadian Bulldozer showed off some of his raw strength on Wednesday:
Gallimore set career-highs last season with 6.5 tackles for loss and four sacks. His ability to disrupt the opposing team's backfield could make him a good sleeper pick in this year's class.
Given the success Oklahoma has had on the field and how well head coach Lincoln Riley has developed his talent for the next level in recent years, including 2019 No. 1 overall pick Kyler Murray, the school figures to have a significant presence when the draft begins on April 23.
Baker Mayfield Statue to Be Unveiled by Oklahoma at 2020 Spring Game
Mar 9, 2020
ARLINGTON, TX - DECEMBER 2: Baker Mayfield #6 of the Oklahoma Sooners celebrates after defeating the TCU Horned Frogs 41-17 in the Big 12 Championship AT&T Stadium on December 2, 2017 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Ron Jenkins/Getty Images)
Oklahoma will honor 2017 Heisman Trophy winner Baker Mayfield as part of its spring game festivities April 18.
Sooners coach Lincoln Riley announced Monday the school will unveil a statue of Mayfield at Gaylord Family Oklahoma Memorial Stadium.
Mayfield spent three years with Oklahoma after transferring from Texas Tech. He threw for 12,292 yards, 119 touchdowns and 21 interceptions as a Sooner.
The Sooners won three straight Big 12 titles with him under center, culminating in a 2017 campaign to remember.
Mayfield threw for 4,627 yards and 43 touchdowns, and his 198.9 passer rating was a single-season FBS record at the time. Joe Burrow, Tua Tagovailoa and Kyler Murray have sincesurpassed the mark.
Oklahoma also reached the College Football Playoff, losing to Georgia in double overtime in the Rose Bowl.
OU Daily's George Stoiareported in September the Sooners were planning to commission statues for Mayfield, 2018 Heisman Trophy winner Kyler Murray and the Selmon brothers, Lee Roy, Lucious and Dewey. Murray's statue is expected to be unveiled in spring 2021, and the Selmons will be honored that fall.
Oklahoma has traditionally celebrated its Heisman Trophy winners in bronze. Sam Bradford, the 2008 Heisman,received the privilegein 2011.
With any luck, the Sooners will base Mayfield's statue off hispostgame celebrationfollowing their 2017 win over Ohio State.
Ex-Cowboys RB DeMarco Murray Joins Oklahoma as Running Backs Coach
Jan 27, 2020
NASHVILLE, TN - DECEMBER 03: DeMarco Murray #29 of the Tennessee Titans watches from the sideline during a game against the Houston Texans at Nissan Stadium on December 3, 2017 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Frederick Breedon/Getty Images)
Oklahoma has hired former NFL running back DeMarco Murray as the team's running backs coach, the school announced Monday.
Murray spent four years with the Sooners from 2007-10 before moving onto the NFL, where he played seven years with the Dallas Cowboys, Philadelphia Eagles and Tennessee Titans. He earned three Pro Bowl selections and was named first-team All-Pro in 2014 when he led the league in rushing yards and rushing touchdowns.
He also holds the Oklahoma record for all-purpose yards with 6,718 and total touchdowns with 65, earning first-team All-Big 12 honors twice in his four years.
The Sooners won 43 games during his time playing under then-coach Bob Stoops.
"DeMarco had a tremendous playing career both at OU and in the NFL and has a passion for coaching and helping young men grow as players and people," head coach Lincoln Riley said in a release. "He's got an incredibly bright coaching future and will be an outstanding mentor to our players. I don't think there's anyone better to lead our running backs."
Murray remained active in football following his playing career, serving as an analyst on Fox Sports in 2018 before becoming a running backs coach at Arizona last season.
However, the 31-year-old is exited to return to Norman as a coach:
"This is very surreal. Obviously I never thought I'd be back coaching at the place where it all started for me. Having the opportunity to come back and be among great coaches and be with some of the people I grew up with is exciting. I'm thankful for the opportunity Coach Riley is giving me and I'm looking forward to being back home."
Oklahoma has won 12 games in each of the last three years with one of the top offenses in football each season.
Murray will have a lot to work with at running back in 2020 with Kennedy Brooks, Trey Sermon and Rhamondre Stevenson all set to return.
Jalen Hurts Says He Wouldn't Change Any Experience from Alabama, Oklahoma Career
Jan 20, 2020
ATLANTA, GA - DECEMBER 28: Jalen Hurts #1 of the Oklahoma Sooners looks on during the Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl against the LSU Tigers at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on December 28, 2019 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Carmen Mandato/Getty Images)
Oklahoma quarterback Jalen Hurts reiterated Monday that he had no regrets from his college career, which included transferring from Alabama to Oklahoma before the 2019 season.
"I don't think there is any experience that I would go back and exchange or change," he told reporters during Senior Bowl festivities. "Everything has happened for a reason. It's all happened as it's supposed to. I think I'm stronger, wiser, a better man, player, leader for everything."
Hurts will even wear a helmet that is half Alabama's design and half Oklahoma's during the Senior Bowl:
Hurts, 21, spent his first three seasons at Alabama and was the team's starting quarterback as a freshman and sophomore, leading the team to a 27-2 record and a national championship against the Georgia Bulldogs in the 2017 campaign.
But it was Tua Tagovailoa who was the hero in that title game, replacing Hurts in the second half and leading the team back from a 13-0 deficit. Tagovailoa remained the starter in 2018, and Hurts chose to transfer to Oklahoma ahead of the 2019 campaign.
It was the right move. He finished as the Heisman Trophy runner-up after throwing for 3,851 yards, 32 touchdowns and eight interceptions, adding 1,298 yards and 20 scores on the ground. He led Oklahoma to a 12-2 record and a berth in the College Football Playoff, though the Sooners were blown out by Heisman winner Joe Burrow and the eventual champion LSU Tigers, 63-28.
As for Hurts' next team, he's likely to be a middle-round selection. B/R's Matt Miller did not project Hurts to be a first-round selection in his most recent mock draft, while ESPN's Todd McShay projected him as a third-day pick in October and Mel Kiper Jr. thought he could potentially sneak into the second round.
Hurts will almost assuredly get drafted, though it will come long after players like Burrow, Tagovailoa and Oregon's Justin Herbert are off the board.
Video: Jalen Hurts' 2020 Senior Bowl Helmet to Pay Tribute to Alabama, Oklahoma
Jan 20, 2020
ATLANTA, GA - DECEMBER 28: Jalen Hurts #1 of the Oklahoma Sooners looks on during the Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl against the LSU Tigers at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on December 28, 2019 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Carmen Mandato/Getty Images)
Jalen Hurts will be representing both Alabama and Oklahoma at the Senior Bowl.
The star quarterback will be wearing a helmet with Alabama's design on one side and Oklahoma's on the other:
QB Jalen Hurts got presented with a specially made helmet that has his Bama number on one side & the Oklahoma logo on the other he will wear for the game.
A second one was made to be auctioned off for charity. Hurts was very surprised and appreciative of the gesture ☺️ pic.twitter.com/FKaQUDXROy
Aforementioned Hurts helmet ... I'm told the crimsons on each half are a shade different -- OU's crimson is slightly brighter. pic.twitter.com/0QLYl7TDPa
It's a cool idea, and Hurts emphasized that he still benefited from the time he had with the Crimson Tide despite ultimately losing his starting job to Tua Tagovailoa:
#Oklahoma QB Jalen Hurts said he’s strong, wiser; a better player and a better man because of everything that happen at Alabama and what led him to Oklahoma. Firm in his belief that everything happens for a reason.
All's well that ends well—Hurts had a monster season for the Sooners, throwing for 3,851 yards, 32 touchdowns and just eight interceptions. He also rushed 1,298 yards and another 20 scores, leading Oklahoma to a 12-2 record and a berth in the College Football Playoff.
Oklahoma's Jalen Hurts Accepts Invitation to 2020 Senior Bowl
Jan 5, 2020
Oklahoma quarterback Jalen Hurts (1) stands on the bench against LSU during the second half of the Peach Bowl NCAA semifinal college football playoff game, Saturday, Dec. 28, 2019, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/John Amis)
Oklahoma Sooners quarterback Jalen Hurts accepted his invitation to participate in the Senior Bowl in Mobile, Alabama, on Jan. 25, according to The Athletic's Dane Brugler Sunday night.
"This was really a no-brainer decision for him," Brugler noted. "He still has plenty to prove and a stand-out week in Mobile can help convince a team he's worth a day 2 draft pick."
Hurts finished his collegiate career at Oklahoma after three years at Alabama. This season, the 2019 Heisman Trophy finalist threw for 3,851 yards, 32 touchdowns and eight interceptions on a 69.7 completion percentage alongside 1,298 yards and 20 touchdowns on 233 rushing attempts.
Hurts was a graduate transfer to Oklahoma after going 41-3 at Alabama. With the Crimson Tide, he was named the 2016 SEC Freshman of the Year and SEC Offensive Player of the Year before going on to start all 14 games in 2017 before Tua Tagovailoa took over in the College Football National Championship overtime win against Georgia.
Hurts remained at Alabama as a backup to Tagovailoa last season. His final signature moment came when an injured Tagovailoa was forced to leave the 2018 SEC Championship Game with Alabama tied at 28 with Georgia. Hurts led the Tide's game-winning drive with three minutes remaining in regulation, running in the game-winning touchdown from 15 yards out.
Overall, Hurts threw for 5,626 yards, 48 touchdowns and 12 interceptions as well as 1,976 yards and 23 touchdowns on the ground as Alabama's quarterback.
"Everyone at the Reese's Senior Bowl couldn't be more excited to get Jalen Hurts back to the state of Alabama for his final college game," Senior Bowl executive director Jim Nagy told AL.com's Mark Heim. "Jalen did some phenomenal things on the field for Alabama and he really endeared himself to Crimson Tide fans with how professionally he handled himself in every situation—both on and off the field."
5 QBs confirmed for 2020 Senior Bowl so far: Jalen Hurts, Oklahoma Jordan Love, Utah State Shea Patterson, Michigan Steven Montez, Colorado Anthony Gordon, Wash. State
Still holding spots for Joe Burrow & Justin Herbert (and presumably one more).
— Creg Stephenson the First (@CregStephenson) January 6, 2020
Hurts struggled in his last outing, however, as the No. 4 Sooners lost 63-28 to No. 1 LSU in the College Football Playoff semifinal on Dec. 28. He was held to 217 yards, no touchdowns and one interception on 15-of-31 passing but was still fairly effective on the ground with 43 yards and two touchdowns on 14 carries.
Bleacher Report's Matt Miller rated Hurts as a late third-round pick in his latest 2020 mock draft.
The 2020 NFL draft will begin on April 23 in Paradise, Nevada.
