Ladies and gentlemen, today we’ve got a bit of a shake-up in the college football world that might surprise some of you! Former NFL star and current Oklahoma Sooners assistant coach DeMarco Murray has found himself in hot water with the NCAA, and it’s making headlines for all the wrong reasons.
Here’s what’s going down: the NCAA has suspended Murray for one game due to what they’re calling a “myriad of instances” where he made impermissible contact with recruits. Now, when we say “myriad,” we’re talking about 65 phone calls and 36 text messages to 17 prospects over a span of 16 months.
That’s a lot of communication, folks! So, what’s the problem here? Well, it turns out those contacts were against the rules, thanks to a COVID-19 waiver that had expired—a detail Murray apparently missed, despite the school’s efforts to keep everyone informed.
According to the NCAA, Oklahoma had properly educated its football coaches on the rules, but Murray still ended up crossing the line. It seems like an honest mistake, but in the world of college sports, the rules are the rules, and breaking them can lead to some serious consequences.
And while you might expect the head coach to face some heat too, Brent Venables—Oklahoma’s head coach—dodged a suspension. The NCAA acknowledged that he promoted an atmosphere of compliance and kept a close eye on his staff. That’s a big reason why he’s not facing any time off, despite a violation of head coach responsibility rules.
But the story doesn’t end there. As part of the fallout, Oklahoma has taken some proactive steps to avoid further penalties. The university imposed its own recruiting restrictions in 2023 and is set to face a three-week ban on phone and electronic communication after the 2024 regular season.
That’s a pretty hefty price to pay, especially in the highly competitive world of college football recruiting.
Oklahoma’s season opener is just around the corner, with the Sooners set to take on Temple. They’re the heavy favorites, but they’ll be without Murray on the sidelines, which might add a little extra drama to the game.
DeMarco Murray, a name familiar to many from his days tearing up the NFL field, has been a staple at Oklahoma for the past four seasons as the running backs coach. He’s a Sooner legend, holding the school record for all-purpose yards and touchdowns, and he’s no stranger to success, with a standout career in the NFL that included being named Offensive Player of the Year in 2014.
This suspension might be a bump in the road for Murray, but his legacy and impact on Oklahoma’s football program are far from over. Stay tuned, folks, because this story is still unfolding, and the season has only just begun!
