Berry Tramel: The fracturing of college football isn't the NCAA's fault. College football brought this on itself.

Think of your worst enemy. Now think of the ultimate revenge.

Fire ants and molasses. A Netflix account that shows only repeats of “Catwoman.” A daily diet of liver and Brussel sprouts.

Quality punishments all. But they have been trumped. Deliver payback with this terrible swift sword: Put them in charge of OU football ticket distribution in the Year of our Lord 2020.

The Sooners announced Wednesday that stadium capacity for games will be reduced to 25%, which means barely north of 20,000 fans will watch live the Owen Field proceedings.

The day after the Big 12 announced that it would indeed try to play football in this pandemic-stricken season, the conference released its revamped schedule, and OU and OSU officially released the news that people will be allowed

in the stands. Talk about forging ahead.

OSU did not announce a capacity but did say no tailgating would be allowed on campus grounds, which is outrage akin to telling Pistol Pete he must wear loafers and a fedora.

OU's capacity, caused by social distancing requirements, means the massive stadium at kickoff will look like a 62-7 Kansas game entering the fourth quarter. Not that there's anything wrong with that.

A full stadium can't happen. That would be more of a superspreader than Lowe's on a Saturday morning.

A half-full stadium can't happen. The math doesn't work. You need to separate horizontally and vertically. Six feet between parties. A checkerboard configuration is all that gets it even to the 25% range.

Which means OU is in for a public-relations nightmare. How do you distribute 21,000 tickets when you normally distribute 80,000? Same for OSU, no matter what magic percentage the Cowboys come up with.

I hope I'm not breaking news here, but big donors will get priority. You don't have to like it, but you do have to lump it. That's the

OU fans cheer during the 2019 Texas Tech game. Gaylord Family-Oklahoma Memorial Stadium will not be quite so full in the 2020 season. [BRYAN TERRY/ THE OKLAHOMAN]

way the world works.

OU and OSU will ask for patience and a good attitude. I hope you will grant them such grace. Grace goes a long way even when the coronavirus hasn't turned America upside down. Grace is our only salvation during a pandemic.

Heck, the same goes for me. The pressboxes in Norman and Stillwater will be socially distanced, too. The capacities are greatly reduced. I have no idea if I'll get a spot. I've already told the PR chiefs, I'd like to be there, but I won't complain if I'm not.

The ticket distribution people are headed for an awful month. Difficult decisions. Agonizing phone calls. Sleepless nights.

Here's how you can

help them. Understand that there are no good solutions. The math doesn't work. Both universities will be obliging in whatever ways they can.

If you're one of the lucky ticket-holders chosen for entry, don't accept the tickets if you're not going to the game. I know it's tempting to get them and pass them out to grandkids or sell them to stir-crazy fans who are going batty and will pay a pretty penny. Try to avoid it. If you're not going, let another season-ticket holder go.

Don't be enraged with high rollers in the suites. Both schools are hemorrhaging money. Any way they can recoup a little and maintain a semblance of social distancing, they must.

And remember, ticket managers and associate athletic directors are people, too. They didn't eat that Chinese bat. None of us wanted to be here.

But here we are, and the Sooners and Cowboys are trying to make the best of it. Show some grace. Besides, OU fans, you're going to have to save all your malice for when the Texas tickets are distributed.