Threat to Reporters on Questioning Joe Mixon Is Backfiring on Oklahoma and Orange Bowl
Joe Mixon, a freshman running back at Oklahoma, was suspended for the 2014 season for a domestic violence incident. As Ty Duffy wrote this past February when Mixon was reinstated: “Mixon reached a plea deal before going on trial for punching a female student and breaking four bones in her face. Crucially for him, the video was shown to the media but not released to the public.”
Though filibustering questions about the incident is something Oklahoma has had to handle since it happened, with a renewed focus this season (update: and until today, they’d shielded Mixon from questioning all season), the national media is around now with the CFB semifinal between Oklahoma and Clemson on Thursday afternoon. Today, this chain of events happened:
We've been told that anyone who asks Joe Mixon a non-football question will be escorted out. I'm ready for lunch anyway.
— Paul Myerberg (@PaulMyerberg) December 29, 2015
Orange Bowl official says Joe Mixon will only answer football-related questions or media will be asked to step away, per Oklahoma.
— Jon Solomon (@JonSolomonAspen) December 29, 2015
Oklahoma RB Joe Mixon to speak w/ media for 1st time since arrival on campus at media day. “FB questions only,” says Orange Bowl official.
— George Schroeder (@GeorgeSchroeder) December 29, 2015
Mixon, when asked if he thinks he's alienated female fans. "Next question."
— Jake Trotter (@Jake_Trotter) December 29, 2015
As you can imagine, this decision is already getting pilloried by the national media, and has actually served to call more attention to the incident than if the strategy had merely been for Mixon to avoid questions, which were inevitable and which he appears to be doing a fine job of.
Mixon rushed for 749 yards and seven touchdowns on 110 carries this season.
[H/T College Spun]