Oklahoma head coach Lincoln Riley watches his team warm up before an NCAA college football game against Texas at the Cotton Bowl, Saturday, Oct. 9, 2021, in Dallas. Oklahoma won 55-48. (AP Photo/Jeffrey McWhorter)
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Oklahoma Football Team Wednesday media access canceled unexpectedly until after Saturday’s game against TCU, by multiple outlets.
Although no reason was given for the change, it appears to be in response to a report by the student newspaper.
Mason Young and Austin Curtright of the OU Daily reported that first-year quarterback Caleb Williams was seen clashing with the Sooners’ first-team offense while redshirted second Spencer Rattler was working with the second team.
While Williams replaced Rattler and sparked the Sooners’ 55-48 win over Texas, Oklahoma coach Lincoln Riley didn’t name a starter against TCU.
The OU Daily story said reporters “watched the offensive practice regimen from a public building near the OU football practice field, with no athletics employees discouraging the sighting. The Daily does not observe training regularly, but did so on Tuesday with heightened interest given the situation.
Riley was apparently unhappy with the diligent student journalists.
The Dallas Morning News reported that three to five Sooners players are typically made available to media on Wednesdays and Riley meets with writers on Thursdays. But these sessions have all been cancelled.
Riley has been known to go to great lengths to cover up what’s going on in practice. Last year, Newson6.com reported that college crews were “applying special opaque film to 54 windows” on buildings across from the Sooners’ practice facility.
Riley’s reaction to the student newspaper story prompted many jokes on Twitter. Here are some examples.
This story was originally published October 14, 2021 10:01 a.m.
