Tag: Joe Castiglione

Joe Castiglione lays out path for who will get tickets for Oklahoma games in pandemic

As the coronavirus pandemic is ongoing, college football programs are having to come up with plans in order to accommodate fans at games.

As the coronavirus pandemic is ongoing, college football programs around the country are having to come up with contingency plans in order to accommodate fans in the stands.

The governor of Texas announced last week that 50 percent of capacity will be allowed at athletic venues across their state. Iowa State has announced a plan already in how many fans will be allowed in stands.

Oklahoma has lagged—just like they have during this whole process—in regards to announcing or speaking on anything official when it comes to the 2020 college football season. The Sooners are in wait-and-see mode, meaning they can see what others are doing and adjust accordingly to their plans.

Athletic director Joe Castiglione had his weekly radio call with play-by-play voice Toby Rowland on SportsTalk 1400 in Oklahoma. Here is his quote in its entirety on who would get tickets, how they plan to accommodate CDC guidelines and how many fans would be allowed at Oklahoma games in the fall.

“We have actually a system in place that has been utilized for years and years and years. And it works well,” Castiglione said to Rowland. “It works well. As you know, we have a neutral site game in Dallas, Texas, that has a system we put in place that our fans are used to, and it’s based on longevity association with the program both as season ticket holders and donors. That is one way.

“By the way, we use that system for bowl games, for Final Fours—any other major events, games on the road when ticket demand is very high. Our fans know that, they understand it, they’re used to it, but that doesn’t mean every one of them is going to be interested in coming to the game. We already know that are going to be some that are very sensitive about it until there are more medical advancements, vaccinations, therapeutic treatments, etc. The other part that is a little more difficult is deciding how many.

“We can create the system of ticket allocation, but we’re not really sure who will deem the practice of how many we can accommodate the one we choose. We have these models that can replicate what social distancing could look like in a stadium, should we have to practice it, but I’m not sure who’s the one that’s gonna say, ‘All right, we can only have this percentage of capacity or that percentage of capacity.’

“… But it’s still almost three months away, Not so much three months away from us having to put a plan in place, but three months away from the games themselves occurring. So we’re hoping that number will continue to grow—meaning the number we can accommodate.”

Oklahoma is still set to begin the 2020 season on Sept. 5 against Missouri State at home.

[lawrence-auto-related count=3]

Oklahoma athletic director Joe Castiglione makes statement on racial injustice

Many coaches and people of leadership in college athletics have spoken out as unrest over racial injustice continues in the United States.

Many coaches and people of leadership in college athletics have spoken out as unrest over racial injustice continues since the killing of George Floyd in Minneapolis.

Oklahoma head coach Lincoln Riley and many other assistant coaches for the Sooners have gone to Twitter to make their feelings and emotions of the current situation heard. Many players like safeties Justin Broiles and Chanse Sylvie have used their voices for activism for change.

Leadership, though, comes from the top down. Oklahoma athletic director Joe Castiglione broke silence late Monday night after meeting with black players from the Sooners and Kansas State.

Oklahoma officially set to re-open football facilities July 1, per release

Oklahoma made their official announcement that they will re-open their athletic facilities for football on July 1 per a release…

Alexa, play ‘The Boys Are Back In Town’ by Thin Lizzy.

Oklahoma made their official announcement that they will re-open their athletic facilities for football on July 1 per a release from the university’s athletic department.

“As we have planned for the re-opening of our facilities, the health of our student-athletes and staff has been our top priority,” Athletic Director and university vice president Joe Castiglione said in the release. “It is the principle that has guided every step of our meticulous process. At OU, we are fortunate to have one of the most respected teams of doctors and athletic trainers in the country. We have looked to them for direction in our preparation and protocols. They will continue to play an important role in the weeks leading up to our opening and beyond.

“We believe in our approach and are convinced that it best positions our student-athletes and staff for long-term success. It is with great excitement that we look forward to their return in preparation for the upcoming sports seasons.”

The Sooners are set to kick off the 2020 football season at home against Missouri State on September 5.

[lawrence-auto-related count=3]

Mayor of Norman concerned about game day atmosphere for Oklahoma football games

How and what college football looks like remains a never-ending conversation. Norman’s mayor is concerned about game day atmosphere.

How and what college football looks like remains a never-ending conversation.

University presidents, athletic departments and administrators continue to talk about bringing fans in the stands after the prevailing thought was that sports would go on without fans in the United States until a vaccine for COVID-19 was found.

Bringing 25 percent capacity of a stadium like Gaylord Family-Oklahoma Memorial Stadium would be around 20,000 to 25,000 people. Thousands more typically tailgate outside of Oklahoma’s stadium and not go into games. Fans in attendance and the game day atmosphere has the mayor of Norman, Oklahoma, concerned.

“Having 80,000 people right next to each other is a terrifying concept to me at this time,” Breea Clark said in a recent interview. “And if you didn’t let them in the stadium, what would they do? Tailgate? Then it becomes the city’s problem and that also terrifies me. So if we take away tailgating, what are they going to do, hang out in bars and be in close quarters?”

The Sooners’ home stadium is right in the middle of Oklahoma’s campus. A couple blocks south of the stadium is Campus Corner—a historical district in Norman, Oklahoma, known for its bars and food. Areas south of the stadium up to Campus Corner are filled with fans on game days tailgating ahead of Oklahoma’s football game.

There is still no official announcement on when Oklahoma football players will return to campus to get prepared for the 2020 season. Athletic director Joe Castiglione and head football coach Lincoln Riley have exuded extreme optimism that a season will happen.

How game days will be orchestrated appears to be a potential problem Oklahoma will have to figure out with its city’s mayor.

[lawrence-auto-related count=3]

Oklahoma announces digital ticketing for all athletic events

All Oklahoma athletic events will now use digital tickets through a smartphone, rather than a physical ticket stub.

The days of having ticket stubs as souvenirs are nearly days gone by.

All Oklahoma athletic events will now use digital tickets through a smartphone, rather than a physical ticket stub. Parking passes for events like football games will also now be digital.

The move to fully electronic ticketing is to increase safety while providing convenience to fans.

Oklahoma has had trail runs of digital tickets with fans receiving digital ticketing for the Sooners’ past two Big 12 Football Championships as well as their College Football Playoff appearances at the Sugar Bowl and Orange Bowl.

“We’re sure hopeful that our athletics competitions will occur as scheduled,” Oklahoma athletic director and vice president Joe Castiglione said. “But regardless of any timetables, we’re extremely excited to introduce digital ticketing at our venues as it will result in several benefits for our fans.”

As the world navigates the COVID-19 pandemic, lessening the physical exchange between fans and ticket takers at the gates should give fans an added sense of security.

The university said that the athletic department still plans on printing commemorative tickets to fans that request them.

[lawrence-auto-related count=3]

Oklahoma athletic director is not trying to alter non-conference games

Oklahoma AD Joe Castiglione joined Siruis radio to set the record straight on Oklahoma’s non-conference dealings.

With the coronavirus pandemic creating uncertainty throughout the sports world, Oklahoma athletic director Joe Castiglione joined Holly Rowe, Gabe Ikard and Chris Plank on Siruis radio to set the record straight on Oklahoma’s non-conference dealings.

The Sooners are currently set to travel to West Point, New York to play Army in 2020 before conference games begin.

New York has been the epicenter of the coronavirus outbreak in the United States, with over 192,394 total cases in the state according to The New York Times on May 14.

“We’re not investigating any other alternative with non-conference games,” Castiglione said. “Sure there may be some last minute adjustment, but you start trying to move one it creates a chain reaction. I don’t see that being the wisest way to go forward with football.”

College football has yet to see cancellations or postponements outside of spring practices and games.

Oklahoma’s season is currently set to begin on September 5.

[lawrence-auto-related count=3]

OU athletic director says decision on football season needs to be made by early to mid-June

Oklahoma’s Joe Castiglione has set a timeframe for when he thinks the decision on a football season needs to be made.

[jwplayer 7iqp96gp-er0jUifI]

There is not many athletic directors more respected out there than the one at Oklahoma.

Joe Castiglione has guided the Sooners through its current age of football and has put in place championship level programs in almost every sport at Oklahoma.

There has been plenty of talk of timelines, formats and planning for the college football season. Those ideas and contingency plans have gone from rational to out-of-this-world, but Castiglione offered up where he has at with the impending college football season.

He went on play-by-play voice of Oklahoma, Toby Rowland’s, radio show again on April 23, and Castiglione was asked when a decision needs to be made on the football season.

“My view is we need to make a decision somewhere in the early to middle part of June to know whether we are going to be having football start on time or even to have football at all this fall,” he told Rowland, “I’m not sitting there and circling a date on the calendar saying it has to be this particular day, but as we followed this, I think that’s a timeframe that is reasonable. We’re not knowing what is going to happen by then, it’s hard to imagine that 10 or 15, or 20, days after that will tell us anything more. …

“… I think that is the timeframe to decide. Now, a lot of people want to say you need six weeks, seven weeks, eight weeks—I think we can figure all the tactical part out in probably less time than that. I think it’s also important for us to remember that it’s not going to be like we walk student-athletes on to the campus and boom like a light switch, they are back in shape or we are ready to start practicing at the highest level. Shoot, it might take us a week or two to figure through the medial protocols.”

Castiglione said he thinks a decision on whether students will be allowed back on campus should come in early to mid-July, but a decision on football needs to come sooner in order for planning to take place.

Oklahoma is currently scheduled to begin the 2020 season on Sept. 5 against Missouri State.

Lincoln Riley: “We’ll play in the parking lot if that’s where they want us to play”

College football has been one of the main discussions during the shutdown. Lincoln Riley says he’s okay with playing games without fans.

One of the major topics of conversation since the coronavirus shut down sports is what is going to happen when sports return in whatever capacity.

There is still no timeline on when locker rooms can be full, media can begin in-person coverage or when stadiums can be packed with 100,000 or more fans again.

Oklahoma athletic director Joe Castiglione has talked about the prospect of a season in the spring. Head football coach Lincoln Riley has expressed confidence that a 2020 season will happen in some sort of way.

When asked on Friday if he would play games without fans, Riley said he’d be ready to step right outside the stadium if they needed to.

“We’ll play in the parking if that’s where they want us to play,” Riley told ESPNU Radio on SiriusXM. “Of course we’d love to play in front of fans. Both our own and some of our favorite games are getting on the road and all the hostility and all that comes with road atmospheres. So you certainly hope we can do it with the fans whenever that may be, but if it comes down to playing or playing a season based on not having fans on the stands, that’s okay.”

“We definitely want to play whenever it is. Whether it’s early, late—doesn’t matter. But do I think if there is an opportunity, no matter where it’s at in the calendar, I do believe if there is an opportunity to play in front of our fans and everybody else be able to play in front of their fans, I’d think we’d be crazy not to take a strong look at it.”

The Big 12 is currently not allowing in-person contact at all for its respective schools through May 31. The University of Oklahoma has canceled in-person classes for its summer session through Aug. 1.

Oklahoma is scheduled to currently kickoff the 2020 season on Sept. 5 against Missouri State.

[lawrence-auto-related count=3]

Joe Castiglione, Lincoln Riley have message for Oklahoma fans amid coronavirus pandemic

There’s pessimism and there’s optimism for a potential college football season. Oklahoma’s leadership provided a message to its fans.

There’s pessimism and there’s optimism for a potential college football season, but not much in-between.

More and more college football coaches and officials are getting their voice out on the ever-changing coronavirus pandemic, how it’s effecting football programs and the future of an entire season. Oklahoma is no different, with the two at the top of the food chain making recent appearances.

Athletic director Joe Castiglione went on play-by-play voice Toby Rowland’s radio show last week. Head football coach Lincoln Riley had his own 30-minutes of media appearances across three shows Monday.

The two were asked every question in the book from what’s happened since, what adjustments have been made, how has the team handled it to what is missed in spring football and how they overcome it.

Castiglione, though, was asked about more of the athletic department side of things, and he was open and honest about much of everything. OU’s athletic director said they are reaching out to as many fans, ticket holders and donors they can. Oklahoma has delayed ticket renewals and tried to be as flexible as possible in this unknown time.

“There have been so many times where we had a plan ready to put together and implement and then a major piece of news that just absolutely kicks the plan right to the curb and you have to completely recalibrate,” Castiglione told Rowland. “And I understand what that might be like in individual families or for people who are dealing with this. Dealing with some family member who might have contracted the virus. So we’re praying for everybody, we have everybody in our mind. We’re trying to have various moments where we can reach out to people who have been affected in one way or another and let them know we care about them.”

Riley was given an open platform to Oklahoma fans that are also patiently awaiting football during his appearance on 107.7 The Franchise in Oklahoma City.

“It’s tough. I think more than anything, hopefully everybody appreciates what they have,” Oklahoma’s head coach said. “The opportunities they have to enjoy Oklahoma football whether it’s a fan, whether it’s a coach or a player—we’re all very blessed to be able to be a part of this program and all the great things that have happened here for a long, long time. I promise you we are as antsy to get back as anybody and we’re working hard to make sure that this team will be ready to go when we get the green light.”

Castiglione was given the same opportunity with Rowland.

“And I think this time is to try to keep the main priorities in order—first and foremost, get through this,” he said. “However that is going to happen. Get through it healthy. We don’t know what the world is going to look like exactly. We can sit here and speculate all we want. But get through it healthy, get through it safe. Everybody’s ready to go. We’ll figure it out whatever that is. It might be tough. It might be completely unlike what we ever could have expected. Obviously we are in a period of time where things like that are happening literally hour-by-hour.

“We just want people to know that we get it. We want to be able to have what they love, and that’s the opportunity of sports, student-athletes, our teams—that’s a unifying element for many, many people. We get that. We want to be ready to make it possible when it’s right. We’re trying to do everything we can to be ready.”

[lawrence-auto-related count=3]

Oklahoma athletic director Joe Castiglione talks possibility of 2021 spring football season

The conversation is already running rampant, and OU athletic director Joe Castiglione spoke about the possibility of a 2021 spring season.

“I haven’t done any polling (among other athletic directors), but in my mind absolutely,” Oklahoma’s athletic director said. “I think anything short of no football season at all is something we’d have to talk about.

“We look at what you need to be prepared for the season and then start counting backwards,” Castiglione said. “Optimal would be having our players back on campus practicing sometime after the first of July. That would be optimal.”

“We understand that we’re dealing with something much bigger than sports, but you’re talking about our job, you’re talking about things that help make our athletic program operate, you’re talking about the economic engine for our entire program,” Castiglione said. “And if we’re not playing football at all in the upcoming year, that is something no one has ever imagined. But now we’re having to do that. What does that look like financially? It’s not a pretty picture at all. That’s the daunting part of having to do these contingency plans and scenarios.”