Oklahoma City Experiences Fallout from NCAA Violations

In Oklahoma City, the NCAA has announced that Oklahoma Sooners assistant football coach and former NFL star DeMarco Murray has been suspended due to several recruiting violations. The NCAA stated, “Recruiting violations occurred in the Oklahoma football program when assistant coach DeMarco Murray impermissibly contacted prospects and their families prior to the permissible time period.” The violations included a total of 65 improper phone calls and 36 unauthorized text messages sent to 17 prospects over 16 months. Murray claimed he was unaware that a COVID-19 waiver allowing specific recruitment contact had expired.

Interestingly, the problem didn’t just lie with Murray. The NCAA pointed out additional violations in the track and field program. Former head coach Tim Langford apparently directed a female student-athlete to share some scholarship funds with two male student-athletes in the same program. Consequently, both Murray and Langford were found to have violated head coach responsibility rules.

The University of Oklahoma Athletics Department received a fine of $5,000 and faced a one-year probation period. The Sooners also imposed a three-week ban on recruiting phone and electronic contact, which will take effect this winter. Additionally, the team cannot have any unofficial visitors on campus during their upcoming game against Temple.

The university released a statement, emphasizing that they discovered the violations through their monitoring systems and acted swiftly. “OU worked with the NCAA to manage the review and reach a conclusion,” it confirmed. “The violations in question were limited to the actions of a coach who is no longer employed by the University and a current assistant coach.”

DeMarco Murray has held his position as the Sooners’ running backs coach since 2020 and continues to be known for an impressive NFL career. He holds multiple franchise records with the Dallas Cowboys, including most rushing yards in a game by a rookie (253) and most rushing yards in a season (1,845). In 2014, he was recognized as the NFL Offensive Player of the Year, making him a significant figure in both college football and the NFL.