Oklahoma didn’t just get a win at Florida. It got a version of John Mateer that looked lighter, sharper and more in control.
That mattered because the week leading into the 23-7 victory had been anything but normal. Sooners offensive coordinator Ben Arbuckle was fired, and Mateer - who had had Arbuckle calling plays for all of his college starts at Washington State and Oklahoma before Saturday - was suddenly operating in a different kind of spotlight. Instead of letting that spill over, he put together one of his strongest outings in an Oklahoma uniform.
Mateer finished with 207 passing yards, two touchdown passes and no interceptions. He also added a season-high 56 rushing yards, giving the Sooners a steady, efficient spark in a game they needed to have.
Heinecke said the message to Mateer last week was straightforward.
“In a way it’s a fresh start,” Heinecke said he told John Mateer. “You know it’s kind of a (expletive) fresh start, but it’s a fresh start. So take that what you will and continue to get better.”
Mateer said he was aware of how much his body language and energy could shape the rest of the team.
“If I flinch, everybody else will flinch,” Mateer said. “That’s just kind of the way it is, the position I’m in.”
His teammates saw that he handled the situation without letting it shake him.
“I’m so proud of him,” offensive tackle Michael Fasusi said. “He channelled his energy into doing something great, to keep being consistent.
It didn’t affect him in practice at all, it didn’t stop him from being the leader he’s always been. Every single day, he’s coming in with that energy, clapping and he’s doing all that - screaming at the top of his voice - if anything he’s doing more despite the situation.
“When you see a guy every day like that, you already know he’s going to freaking ball out.”
Heinecke said the change was obvious from his vantage point, too.
“Looked like he was playing loose,” Heinecke said. “I was extremely happy for him.
He deserves the world. I know that he’s been frustrated with how the season’s going and it’s not easy to have that kind of hate coming your way.
So to see him respond and have a good week is awesome.”
The performance also extended a clean stretch for Mateer. For the first time since arriving at Oklahoma, he has gone three straight games without an interception.
Now the Sooners turn to No. 19 Ole Miss, with kickoff set for 3:15 p.m.
Saturday at Gaylord Family - Oklahoma Memorial Stadium. Oklahoma is trying to win back-to-back games for the first time all season after alternating wins and losses through its first nine games.
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Oklahoma Just Sent A Blunt Message About Brent Venables Future
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Rick Nagel, the chair of the Oklahoma Board of Regents, added to that picture by publicly saying Venables is not on the hot seat despite the disappointing season. For a program with championship standards and a fan base that does not like to wait, that kind of backing matters, because it suggests Oklahoma is not looking to make a snap judgment about its coach even as the pressure around the program continues to build. [Read more 🡒]