Why 'everything is on the table' for OU football QB John Mateer's starting status
OU football coach Brent Venables was asked about who would start for the Sooners at quarterback against Florida on Saturday. Here is what he said.
Norman, Oklahoma — Oklahoma University head coach Brent Venables refused to give a definitive answer on Monday night whether quarterback John Mateer would start the upcoming game against Florida. On Tuesday, Venables reiterated that "everything is on the table," following his unexpected dismissal of offensive coordinator Ben Arbuckle.
Mateer, along with backup quarterbacks Whitt Newbauer and Bowe Bentley, all participated in Monday's practice and received their usual number of reps with the first-team offense. However, Mateer's performance in the previous game against South Carolina was notably poor, and Venables has expressed concerns about inconsistent quarterback play, which contributed to Arbuckle's dismissal.
Venables acknowledged that Mateer, who played under him during their time together at Washington State, carries significant weight on his shoulders. Venables told Mateer that he doesn't deserve the burden associated with such high-stakes decisions. Venables has traditionally been quick to swap quarterbacks in the past when things weren't going well, but his approach seems to have become more measured this season.
Despite the uncertainty surrounding Mateer's role, players and fans believe in the young quarterback's abilities. Venables emphasized that there are promising alternatives in Whitt Newbauer and Bowe Bentley, and the Sooners will see how the situation unfolds.
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