Such is life when you're the father of two young boys, and doing more work from home these days.
"It's kind of interesting," Cristobal said Friday, "when you're in the middle of a Zoom session with your coaches and you catch a Nerf dart to the side of the head."
That anecdote was a welcome bit of levity during a teleconference with local media Friday morning, in which Cristobal addressed the way the Ducks are operating this spring due to the COVID-19 crisis. Players largely did not return to campus when the spring quarter began Monday, given that university classes are being conducted online and most facilities are unavailable.
Oregon's roster did grow by one with the beginning of the new quarter, with incoming freshman Justin Flowe enrolling for online classes, Cristobal said. Flowe was a five-star recruit and the top-rated inside linebacker in the country.
The Ducks are able to conduct meetings by video conference during the week, and coaches are monitoring players' academic progress. All physical activity is voluntary, under Pac-12 Conference guidelines that have suspended organized team activities through May 31.
"I can't say enough about the staff and players," Cristobal said, "about how well they've adjusted … knowing it's about safety first, and then handling our business from there."
The Ducks' original spring practice schedule called for a resumption of workouts this week, following five practices late in winter quarter and then a two-week pause for final exams and spring break. Instead, the UO football team got four practices in before the novel coronavirus pandemic brought drills to a halt.
In his teleconference Friday, Cristobal shied away from speculating on when football activities might resume, and under what format. There are too many variables in play, he repeatedly said, to make any predictions.
That said, he wants the defending Pac-12 and Rose Bowl champions to be ready, whenever life returns to normal.
"We don't get this time back," Cristobal said. "It is what it is. Whenever our circumstances improve and this passes — and there will be a day when life is normal again — well, how did you use this time?"
Although spring practice was abbreviated, the Ducks did get in enough work to make some impressions on Cristobal.
For one thing, sophomore quarterback Tyler Shough cemented his status atop the depth chart as Oregon looks to replace four-year starter Justin Herbert.
"We think Tyler Shough did an outstanding job," Cristobal said. "He entered the spring as the starter; he leaves the spring as the starter. … I can't emphasize enough how fired up we are about Tyler."
Cristobal also said that, for an offensive line looking to replace four starters, "we found some answers, and we found them in a hurry."
During the four practices that were conducted, returning starter and Outland Trophy winner Penei Sewell took snaps on the first unit with T.J. Bass, Alex Forsyth, Malaesala Aumavae-Laulu and Steven Jones. Cristobal said Sam Poutasi, Jonah Tauanu'u and Jonathan Denis also made positive impressions.
Given campus-wide uncertainty due to the pandemic, the University of Oregon has instituted a hiring freeze, which impacts Cristobal's search for a new assistant following the departure of receivers coach Jovon Bouknight.
"All that will resume when the time is appropriate," Cristobal said. "Right now, it's not."
He does continue to do background work on potential candidates, however. Among the tools available is video of coaches giving presentations at clinics, which allows Cristobal to "assess the presence of a guy, his knowledge, the way he connects with people," he said.
"You can make up for some of it," Cristobal added. "There's nothing like being in a room face-to-face with someone, but we're managing the best way we can."
"football" - Google News
April 04, 2020 at 07:11AM
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