Brent Venables pulling out all the stops to change horrible call that has massive ramifications for next week’s game against Auburn Tigers
The Oklahoma Sooners are already trying to reverse one of the worst parts of their game against the Temple Owls
It was a smooth day at the office for the Oklahoma Sooners in their Week 3 matchup against the Temple Owls. The Sooners’ defense smothered Temple all game while the offense went up and down the field multiple times as Oklahoma defeathered the Owls 42-3.
However, there was one major hiccup in this blowout victory that has massive ramifications for the Sooners’ SEC opener next week against the Auburn Tigers. Midway through the third quarter, pass rusher and potential first-round pick R Mason Thomas was hit with an abysmal targeting penalty that saw him ejected from the rest of the game and could see him miss the first half of the Auburn game.
Brent Venables wasn’t having it. He and the rest of the staff exploded at the referee crew for such a ticky-tack call that wasn’t even the worst hit of the game. Immediately following the game, Venables said he hadn’t even seen the hit on targeting, but was planning to appeal it.
Oklahoma Hope An Appeal On Terrible Targeting Call Works
There’s a sort of irony in this whole situation. Last week against Michigan, the Sooners benefitted immensely from a targeting call against linebacker Jaishawn Barham that saw him miss the first half of the game for the Wolverines. Now, just a week later, the Sooners are facing their best defender missing time from a flag that shouldn’t have even been thrown. The two hits were different, but it’s hard not to notice the similar situations.
The downside for Oklahoma is that there have not been a lot of successful appeals, as the NCAA tends to side with the referees’ judgment on the field. There have been a handful, with the most recent (I could find at least) was last season when Ohio State successfully appealed a call on linebacker Arvell Reese and overturned his disqualification.
For now, the Sooners will have to let the process play out. It’s frustrating this is even a situation, particularly with the stakes of next week’s game. Yet again, the targeting penalty is already set to be the most controversial part of the college football season, as it feels like it gets more out of control every season.
Thomas’ absence would be a tough loss for the Sooners, who will have to corral Jackson Arnold’s rushing threat and make him feel the pressure whenever he throws the ball. However, the Sooners are deep at defensive end, making this a tough pill to swallow, but easier to digest than it would have been in previous seasons.
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