The Tulsa-Oklahoma State college football game at Boone Pickens Stadium in Stillwater has been moved from Sept. 12 to Sept. 19, the universities announced on Monday night. It’s the season opener for both schools.
Tulsa explained in a statement that the football team “had a nine-day pause due to multiple positive [COVID-19] tests and was limited to seven practices in the 17 days of preseason camp,” which began on Aug. 7.
Tulsa Athletic Director Derrick Gragg added, “Without time to properly prepare physically we would be putting our student-athletes at a greater risk of injury.”
In attempting to deal with COVID-19 protocols effectively, the Tulsa football team has been limited in practice sessions since the beginning of preseason camp on August 7. Tulsa had a nine-day pause due to multiple positive tests and was limited to seven practices in the 17 days of preseason camp.
“The safety and health of our student-athletes is always at the core of all of our discussions and decisions. Without time to properly prepare physically we would be putting our student-athletes at a greater risk of injury,” said Dr. Derrick Gragg, Tulsa’s vice president & director of athletics. “An open date for both schools presented us with the opportunity to reschedule the game for a week later. I’m appreciative of Mike Holder and Oklahoma State University for their cooperation in coming to this decision.”
The universities said that the kickoff and television details are “pending.” The game was originally scheduled to be shown on ESPN or ESPNU.
Oklahoma State won this matchup last year in Tulsa, 40-21. The Cowboys enter this season ranked No. 15 in the AP poll.
About Matt Clapp
Matt is an editor/writer at The Comeback and Awful Announcing.
He can be reached by email at mclapp@thecomeback.com.