Oklahoma Sooners football has reached a level of darkness, so much so that players’ parents are tweeting again
The Oklahoma Sooners are 2-2 after a very bad loss to the Georgia Bulldogs, and the players’ parents are making sure everyone knows.
The Oklahoma Sooners suffered a 41-13 loss to the Georgia Bulldogs in Week 4, and the fallout is already reaching beyond the field. Now, sophomore running back Tory Blaylock’s father, Derrick Blaylock, has voiced his frustration publicly on social media, adding fuel to growing concerns about how Oklahoma is deploying its talent.
Four turnovers, a 28-0 halftime deficit, and an offense that continues to sputter have created a familiar cloud over the program under coach Brent Venables. Derrick Blaylock posted on social media after the game, writing “This can’t be real,” with “real” in all caps for emphasis. The moment that appeared to trigger his reaction was his son being inserted to start a drive, given one carry, and then immediately pulled from the game.
That frustration is easy to understand. Tory Blaylock finished the game with just three carries for 10 yards. His 3.3 yards per carry was the best mark among any running back in the room, yet he barely saw the field. If the coaching staff wasn’t going to commit to using him, the question becomes obvious: why put him in at all?
This isn’t the first time a parent has publicly questioned the program’s direction under Venables. Over the last few years, similar situations have played out, most notably with former quarterback Michael Hawkins and his parents, who expressed frustration over their son’s opportunity to start. Hawkins eventually transferred to West Virginia, where he has thrived.
The specifics are different, but the pattern is the same. Players and their families are watching the product on the field, seeing the lack of coherent offensive direction, and feeling like their players are not being put in the best position to succeed. That’s a dangerous cycle for any program trying to hold onto talent.
Blaylock showed what he can do as a true freshman
Blaylock’s camp frustration is amplified by what the young running back showed last season. As a true freshman, Blaylock finished with 480 rushing yards and four touchdowns at 4.0 yards per carry. He added 13 catches for 77 receiving yards, averaging six yards per reception. That production, even as an injured player, suggested he’s ready for a bigger role as a sophomore.
Blaylock has dealt with some injuries, but his limited usage goes beyond health. Oklahoma’s deployment of its running backs and its run-game structure have been questionable. The offense was catastrophic against Georgia. At times, it looked like the Sooners could score. But those opportunities turned into backbreaking turnovers that buried any chance of a competitive game.
Georgia is good, but Oklahoma beat itself
Georgia is a good football team. Nobody is disputing that. But the Sooners did more damage to themselves than the Bulldogs did. Four turnovers, including ones that came in scoring territory, turned what could have been a closer game into a 28-0 halftime blowout. The second half was irrelevant by the time it started. The offensive issues are not isolated to one game or one player’s usage.
Everything about the way this unit is functioning is head-scratching, from play-calling decisions to personnel deployment to ball security. When the parents of a player are posting on social media questioning what’s happening, it reflects a deeper problem. Oklahoma has to find answers on offense and figure out how to get its best players involved. Tory Blaylock’s three carries on a night when nothing else worked is a good place to start that conversation.
