Bob Stoops: Disciplinary Actions Against Baker Mayfield Will Be Determined Later
By Chip Rouse
Spring football practice at Oklahoma began on Tuesday, and quarterback Baker Mayfield was expected to be on the practice field. Head coach Bob Stoops has yet to reveal what if any measures will be taken against his starting QB after Mayfield was arrested in late February on charges of public intoxication, disorderly conduct and resisting arrest.
Stoops spoke out publicly on the matter for the first time on Monday in a press briefing held on the eve of the start of spring practice.
Among the issues the Sooner head coach was asked to address was what action will be taken against Mayfield for his poor judgement and unlawful actions in his run in with Fayetteville police in the early morning hours of Feb. 25.
“I am very disappointed that Baker put himself in that situation,” Stoops said in the Monday press conference and was subsequently reported by the Oklahoma City Oklahoman and multiple media outlets around the country.
When asked how he plans to address the matter, Stoops replied, “It’s still (an) ongoing (process), so we won’t determine anything until it is complete.”
Mayfield has a court date of April 7 to answer to the charges against him. That is the day before the annual Oklahoma Red-White spring game.
Stoops said Mayfield is embarrassed by his actions and regrets that he let down the school, his coaches and his teammates by his inappropriate behavior.
Mayfield set an FBS (Football Bowl Subdivision) record last season with a passing efficiency rating of 196.4, nearly four points better than the previous record. He was a Heisman finalist for the second consecutive season and finished third in the 2016 voting.
The two-year starting quarterback at Oklahoma led the nation last season in completion percentage (70.9) and yards per pass attempt (11.1) and finished second in the country in yards per completion (15.6). He completed 22 passes of 40 or more yards and threw for 305 yards per game and 40 touchdowns.
You can be assured that Stoops will address the situation at the appropriate time, and some form of disciplinary action will be taken. Mayfield will probably receive some kind of suspension, be it for one game or a portion thereof. There likely will be other internal discipline imposed outside of what becomes known publicly.
Stoops is well aware that for the sake of the integrity and continuity of the program, as well as the reputation of the university, that Mayfield’s actions must be addressed and a message sent that such behavior is unacceptable and won’t be condoned, and that violators will suffer the consequences of their actions.