The NCAA announced that Oklahoma running backs coach DeMarco Murray would receive a one-game suspension due to recruiting violations on Tuesday. OU head coach Brent Venables spoke about the incident during the weekly SEC football coaches teleconference.
“I won’t really comment on whether or not (the suspension) is this week or not,” Venables said on Wednesday. “But despite nuances like these and the particulars, we have to take responsibility and move on, and that’s exactly what we’re doing.”
Venables also noted that although he won’t confirm which game Murray will sit out, there will not be a “dramatic effect” on OU’s game plan due to the NCAA’s new rule that does not limit the number of coaches a team can have on the sidelines.
According to the NCAA, Murray, who indicated that he was not aware that a COVID-19 recruiting waiver had expired, made 65 impermissible phone calls and sent 36 impermissible text messages to 17 prospects over 16 months.
Because of Murray’s NCAA violation, OU will serve a one-year probation and must pay a $5,000 fine. There is also a three-week ban on recruiting phone and electronic correspondence between Dec. 8, 2024, and March 31, 2025.
“It’s an affirmation, and despite all the education you do, the constant monitoring and reinforcement, and all the, ‘Hey man, just follow the rules this what they are,’ people can still make mistakes,” Venables said. “There’s no doubt I am incredibly disappointed with what took place.”
During OU’s week one matchup against Temple, the program is also not allowed to host any unofficial visits.
Murray, who is entering his fifth season with the Sooners, severed two self-imposed penalties in 2023, including a 20% reduction in football spring recruiting days and a reduction of Murray's recruiting days from 16.4 to eight.
“I do know our staff works to be mindful of the rules,” Venables said. “We have parameters, very clear, strong parameters that are in place, and unfortunately and completely unintentionally, that wasn’t the case here.
“DeMarco knows all of that. He’s accepted responsibility. Like I said, I know who he is, but things still happen even with strong measures in place to try and protect you.”
During the call, Venables also gave injuries updates, stating that senior wide receiver Andrel Anthony, who suffered a season-ending knee injury against Texas last season, would be available against Temple, but that redshirt sophomore wide receiver Nic Anderson would not be.
The Sooners kickoff against Temple at 6:00 p.m. on Friday at Oklahoma Memorial Stadium in Norman on ESPN.
This story was edited by Louis Raser.
