OU football: Sooners changing student section guidelines after 'disappointing' behavior in opener

NORMAN — The student section at Gaylord Family — Oklahoma Memorial Stadium will change for OU's second home game of the season and the rest of the season after "disappointing" behaviors by some in the student section at the Sept. 12 season opener.

The changes include: 

• Designation of seating sections on student tickets to eliminate previous confusion.
• Clearer concourse signage for entry ramps to student sections
• Creation of seating clusters of two to 10 seats.
• Prohibited sections marked off with tape.
• Additional security personnel in student sections to provide direction, monitor compliance and provide support.

Staff will work with attendees toward compliance with seating and masking requirements but attendees who do not cooperate are subject to removal and "may have future game attendance privileges revoked."

The changes came about after meetings between school officials and student leaders after the student section was tightly clustered together — many without masks — with large swaths of empty rows for the opener.

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Fans in all areas of the stadium are required to wear masks except when eating or drinking and are to maintain social distancing at all times.

In announcing the changes, a university release said the school is considering reducing or eliminating student tickets and seating, but those measures would be put on hold to see how effective the measures are at achieving compliance with the guidelines that have been put in place due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Sooners host Kansas State on Sept. 26 (11 a.m., Fox).