Berry Tramel
Tulsa World Sports Columnist
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NORMAN — Did the John Mateer news stun you this week? Floored when you found out the OU quarterback suffered a broken thumb against Auburn that required surgery?
Don’t feel left out. Mateer’s teammates didn’t know it, either. At least not for several days,
“It all hit us weird because we didn’t know,” said safety Peyton Bowen after practice Thursday. “During the game, after the game, nobody knew. And so whenever we all got told, it was a little, like, shock.”
Mateer returned from California on Thursday after undergoing surgery Wednesday. OU officials — including coach Brent Venables — have been mum on the timeline, but a variety of sources are projecting 3-4 weeks before Mateer is cleared to play. Which means Mateer would miss the Texas game on October 11.
But Venables expressed confidence that the Sooners, 4-0 and ranked seventh in The Associated Press poll, can persevere.
“I got faith in our football team,” Venables said. “Hate that for John, certainly. But it’s been good, the spirit of the team. Got a bunch of guys that are highly invested.
“Most teams are going to face some type of adversity, whether it’s in a game or injury to your roster and you gotta move forward and you gotta get better from it. Again, if we’re who I believe we are, we’ll continue to keep our head down and work and get better. That’s what I saw from the team here this week.”
The Sooners have Saturday off but plan to start sophomore Michael Hawkins against Kent State on October 4 and apparently against Texas the next week.
Defensive tackle David Stone was part of the freshman class that included Hawkins and expressed confidence that Hawkins is up for the job.
“He’s a great human being, first of all,” Stone said. “I love the kid. I always talk to him. Any time I see him, I tell him to stay ready for the moment.”
Hawkins started four games last season in place of Jackson Arnold and also replaced Arnold in the Tennessee game (Arnold reversed those roles against South Carolina). Hawkins was good at times, not so good at other times. That’s what you get with a true freshman quarterback.
But that experience should help. Hawkins is a year older, he’s had nine months working with whiz-kid offensive coordinator Ben Arbuckle and he’s got the experience of playing against Southeastern Conference teams Tennessee, Auburn, Texas and South Carolina, plus Navy in the Armed Forces Bowl.
“I think there’s a comfort when it comes to what it’s going to be like out there, taking the first snap, and being the guy that’s got to have a broad set of shoulders,” Venables said. “So I think some of those quote unquote first-time jitters are in the past, so the experience he got last year will certainly be beneficial moving forward.”
Hawkins last season completed 63.3% of his passes, with three touchdowns and two interceptions. He also rushed for 204 yards on 69 carries, and that includes sack yardage, of which there was considerable. Hawkins is a running threat, just like Mateer, only with more speed and less bulk. Mateer’s instincts will be hard to match, but OU has an experienced backup.
“As a player, he’s great,” Stone said. “I love going against him, especially against running quarterbacks — his legs, it’s a weapon. He got his arm, but when he runs, there’s not many that can run like him.
“You know, playing against him in practice, getting better every day, it’s definitely something that benefits us as a team having that quarterback to challenge us.”
berry.tramel@tulsaworld.com
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Berry Tramel
Tulsa World Sports Columnist
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