Lincoln Riley worried coaches may push limits of voluntary workouts

As universities around the country and the NCAA continue to prepare for a college football season as best as possible amid the coronavirus pandemic, Oklahoma Sooners coach Lincoln Riley is worried some of his peers may push the limits for what is and isn't allowable per school and government guidelines.

As ESPN's Heather Dinich wrote, Riley spoke on the state of college football and about players participating in practices deemed "voluntary" during a Zoom news conference:

"Sadly, in our college game, 'voluntary' has always been a very loose term. The reality of the matter is there's different institutions and there's different conferences that allow you to do a different amount, or some just look the other way.
"It's unfortunate that that's what it's come to right now, but we have other parts of our year where that's always been an issue, and it's well-known across coaches, players across the country, that's a rule that's applied very differently different places and in different parts of the country."

Last month, the NCAA announced college football and basketball players could return to university facilities on June 1 for voluntary workouts that were directed by student-athletes and not coaches. Riley said he plans to follow those guidelines but knows others won't. 

"I'm sure the temptation will be high, just like the temptation to get players back on campus right away was high. I think it all just comes down to your priorities and what you believe is best." 

According to Big 12 and Pac-12 protocols, Oklahoma is allowed to open facilities to players on June 15, but the school decided to postpone doing so until July 1. SEC schools will welcome student-athletes back next Monday.