`Higher standard' nothing new for Sooners
Players say they're OK following COVID protocols
NORMAN — Several OU players this week said that seeing their fellow students not wearing masks or not following the COVID-19 protocols they have to follow isn't too difficult.
“We' re held to a higher standard,” h-back Jeremiah Hall said. “We're expected to do the right things no matter whether it's in the classroom, on the field or in the facility. It's normal for us to be different than everyone else. It's normal for us to be different than everyone else. It's normal for us to follow the rules and follow the standard that is set by Coach (Lincoln) Riley for us.
“So if he tells us to wear am ask then it' s only right because we know that his kids are wearing a mask. I know that Coach (Shane) Beamer's kids are wearing a mask, so if they're asking their families to, then it's only right for us to.”
Center Creed Humphrey said it was hard to regulate what everybody does on a campus the size of OU's.
“Kids are going to do what they want to do,” Humphrey said. “It's our job to just stay away from that and keep distance from that. … I'm not going to be bitter about anybody el se doing what t hey want to do.”
Inside the team, Humphrey said, everybody is following the rules they've been given, which includes wearing masks in the facility and at practice and not going out to eat at restaurants.
Riley said his players— and assistant coaches and their families—were used to doing things others aren't doing.
And having the players see the coaches' families following the same protocols was beneficial.
“We all have to sacrifice,” Riley said. “There's a lot of things that we have to sacrifice that a lot of other jobs don't require. This is one of those things.
“I think it's a message to the players, `Look, we're all in this together. We're having to do the same things, we're all having to make the same sacrifices.”
`That was cool for him': Riley relishes Johnson's unexpected role
Perhaps no position looked as secure for a player — maybe with the exception of Humphrey at center — than Gabe Brkic as the Sooners' starting kicker.
But with Brkic out last week, likely due to either a positive COVID-19 test or being held out for contact tracing purposes, his backup took full advantage.
Stephen Johnson made all six of his extra-point attempts and a pair of field goals — including a 42-yarder — in last week's 48-0 win over Missouri State.
Johnson joined the Sooners after playing at Blinn Junior College in Texas. Before Saturday' s game, Johnson hadn't attempted a field goal in a game since 2017.
“It had been like 1,062 days since he's been in an actual game,” Riley said. “And he goes out and is Big 12 Special Teams Player of the Week. That was cool for him.”
Brkic and Johnson both lost out on the job a year ago but when starter Calum Sutherland was arrested early in the season, the door was opened for Brkic and he t ook advantage by making 17 of his field-goal tries and all 52 of his extra-points.
It's not clear how long Brkic will be out. Players who test positive or are deemed to have had close contact with someone who has tested positive must sit out for at least 14 days.
“That's kind of how that position goes,” Riley said. “I'm proud of the depth and the competition we have in that room. It'll be fun to see that thing continue to play out.”