Heisman Trophy Winner Murray Reportedly Sick Just Days Before College Football Playoff
The Oklahoma Sooners held their media availability on Wednesday ahead of Saturday’s Orange Bowl in South Florida, but there was a glaring absence among the players.
Heisman Trophy winner Kyler Murray was not in attendance, according to The Associated Press. The team cited illness for his absence.
Murray was able to practice with the team on Tuesday and there isn’t much concern that he’ll be hampered in any way come Saturday’s College Football Playoff game against Alabama, the AP reported.
Offensive coordinator Cale Gundy said he wasn’t even aware that Murray was ill and would not be present for the availability until he got into the vehicle that carried the Sooners from the hotel to the media session.
“He practiced yesterday,” Gundy said, according to SportsDay. “I think they just thought it’d be best for him to rest a little bit before practice. He should be fine.”
After practice on Tuesday, Murray and some of his teammates headed to a nearby beach where the Heisman winner played toss with some kids.
They’ll always remember that Christmas when they played 500 on the beach with the @HeismanTrophy winner. @TheKylerMurray#OUDNA #BoomerSooner pic.twitter.com/cOx6Xolgi5
— Oklahoma Football (@OU_Football) December 26, 2018
Coincidentally, the exact same situation played out last year for Oklahoma in the lead-up to their College Football Playoff semifinals game.
Heisman-winning quarterback Baker Mayfield missed the Rose Bowl media availability due to an illness, although he would later make a dramatic entrance to OU’s media day.
Oklahoma’s opponent in the Orange Bowl, Alabama, also has a quarterback who is not yet 100 percent, although it’s due to injury rather than illenss.
Tua Tagaovailoa, who was the Heisman runner-up to Murray, said his ankle is about 80-85 percent after having surgery three weeks ago.
“It’s been a lot better,” Tagovailoa said during Alabama’s media session, according to USA Today.
Even though Tagovailoa doesn’t use his legs as much as Murray does, his mobility is still a big part of his game.
Tua says he won’t be limited at all in the semifinal game against Oklahoma. pic.twitter.com/cmHou0jnzh
— ESPN CollegeFootball (@ESPNCFB) December 25, 2018
“It’s a full send. It’s a full send,” Tagovailoa said Monday, according to the Montgomery Advertiser. “We’re running all the plays that we normally run. If I was unable to run some of the plays then I don’t think I should be out there. So, I think it’s a full send.”
This will be the fourth matchup between Oklahoma and Alabama since 2000. The Sooners won the previous three including a 45-31 win over Bama in the 2014 Sugar Bowl.
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