Oklahoma coach mum on when DeMarco Murray serves ban

Oklahoma coach Brent Venables did not shed light Wednesday on when running backs coach DeMarco Murray would serve his NCAA-mandated one-game suspension for recruiting violations.

Venables, instead, said the program was focused on playing its season opener on Friday against visiting Temple.

"I won't really comment on whether or not (the suspension) is this week or not," Venables said Wednesday during the SEC weekly coaches' teleconference. "But despite nuances like these and the particulars, we have to take responsibility and move on, and that's exactly what we're doing."

According to a report from the NCAA Committee on Infractions, Murray made impermissible contact with 17 prospects over a 16-month period. That included 65 phone calls and 36 text messages, which the university discovered during a routine review of phone records.

Murray, a former NFL rushing champion and three-time Pro Bowl selection, joined the Sooners' coaching staff in 2020.

"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."

Murray, 36, starred at Oklahoma from 2007-10.

The Dallas Cowboys drafted Murray in the third round in 2011. He earned All-Pro first-team honors in 2014 after leading the NFL with 1,845 rushing yards and 13 rushing touchdowns in 16 starts for the Cowboys.

He retired after the 2017 season with 7,174 rushing yards and 49 touchdowns plus 2,165 receiving yards and six scores in 99 games (86 starts) with the Cowboys (2011-14), Philadelphia Eagles (2015) and Tennessee Titans (2016-17).

--Field Level Media