Radiers football returns to the field with helmets for first time in 11 months

October practices for Southern Oregon University athletics, but players are making due under the new coronavirus protocols.

To practice.

Newswatch 12's josh shelton shows us how s-o-u football practices have changed this year.

Temperature screenings, covid questionnaires and masks on the field is all stuff to get used to for s-o-u football and raiders athletics as a whole.

But, if you ask all the players and coaches, all the changes are worth getting back out on the field.

11 months since the raiders have had any semblance of a football practice.

So today was something to celebrate.

Whistle blows, players scream it's still no exactly what players are used to in the middle of october... but they'll take it.

Shane mclaughlin says, "felt great.

It's been a long time since we've been playing.

Been since march so to just get that opportunity to be out here just felt great.

Amazing to be back with the team, coaches, everyone."

Practices will look different for awhile, as the cascade conference as a whole is not allowed to have any excessive contact during practices.

And practices can be and will be canceled if teams are not following the established guidelines.

Those guidelines for players and coaches extending beyond the sidelines and into the community.

Charlie hall says, "to me if you want to be apart of our team, you need to do the right thing off the field.

So far we've done a good job and we've had no incidents knock on wood and we'll continue to do so."

Coach hall's message echoed by s-o-u's athletic director who has been in the middle of working with other conference a- d's to get their season's safely off the ground.

Matt sayre says, "we've been working hard to impress upon them that they have to take responsibility for that to keep each other safe."

The cascade collegiate conference is still awaiting approval on their proposal to start contact practices and eventually get into games.

Until then, the football season is still about four months away.

But