No, COVID-19 hasn’t gone anywhere. Yes, Oklahoma is taking it seriously.
The Sooners have rolled out extensive protocols and guidelines to adhere to public health policy in order to host home football games. Gaylord Family-Oklahoma Memorial Stadium did have an odd look with pods of people spread out around the stadium instead of over 80,000 people packed in like sardines.
Well, one place wasn’t following proper protocol against Missouri State/
“To achieve greater compliance with the University of Oklahoma’s COVID-19 policies in the Gaylord Family – Oklahoma Memorial Stadium student sections, the university’s Athletics Department is announcing additional measures that will be implemented for the Sept. 26 home game with Kansas State and for all games to follow,” the University of Oklahoma announced on Friday afternoon.
The student section stuck out inside the stadium during Oklahoma’s 48-0 win over Missouri State. Masks were optional and social distancing was, uh, not being followed.
Oklahoma is ramping up its protocols to accommodate students for home games. The Sooners announced a new designation for seating sections on student tickets, clear concourse signage at the gate for student sections, adding pods of 2 to 10 people for those to sit and delineated prohibited seating sections marked by flagging tap.
“Security personnel will also be significantly increased throughout the student section to provide direction, monitor locations and provide support,” the release said. “Staff will work with game attendees in an effort to achieve compliance with seating and masking requirements. Attendees who do not cooperate are subject to removal from the stadium and may have future game attendance privileges revoked.”
After these steps, Oklahoma has looked into the possibility of eliminating the student section for the season. This is pending based on how the new procedures are followed.
The Sooners host Kansas State for the first game of Big 12 Conference play on Sept. 26 at 11 a.m.
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