John Mateer FINALLY Addresses Controversial Touchdown In Win Over Auburn

John Mateer finally addressed the controversial trick play from last season’s game against Auburn, and his response was pretty simple and straightforward.

Mateer was at the Manning Passing Academy this week when Chris Marler of 104.5 ESPN Radio Baton Rouge asked him about it.

Here’s what he said: "Yeah, it was legal. We asked them (the officials) before the game. I get it, but it was legal."

That’s it. No long explanation. No apology. Just the facts.

And honestly, that’s all he needed to say.

The play happened early in the second quarter with the game tied 3-3. Isaiah Sategna acted like he was coming out of the game, walking slowly toward the sideline. Then right before he got there, he stopped and lined up. Mateer took the snap and threw a 24-yard touchdown pass to a wide-open Sategna.

It was a big momentum swing in a game OU ended up winning 24-17.

Auburn coach Hugh Freeze was furious about it at the time. SEC Officiating later said the play should have been penalized as unsportsmanlike conduct. But reports came out that Oklahoma’s coaches had actually cleared the specific design with the officials before the game.

So Mateer’s point stands, it was legal.

Mateer and Ben Arbuckle don’t owe anyone an apology. They asked the officials ahead of time. They executed it perfectly. It was a big play in a big conference win.

Freeze was upset about it, but he got fired shortly after that game and probably had bigger things to worry about than what Oklahoma was legally doing on the field.

This whole thing is classic college football drama. A trick play that looks shady, a coach complaining, the conference stepping in after the fact. But at the end of the day, OU asked the officials, they said it was okay, and the play worked. That’s football.

Mateer has dealt with plenty of questions about last season. The hand injury, the turnovers, the ups and downs. But he’s coming back healthy and confident. This trick play story is just something that he, his teammates, and the coaches can just laugh about now, as it will never happen again.

Oklahoma has the pieces to be really good again this year. If Mateer stays healthy and the offensive line improves, this offense could be dangerous.

The defense should be elite as usual under Venables.

The trick play controversy is old news now. Time to move on and focus on what’s ahead.

Mateer’s response was perfect. It was short, honest, and to the point.

He’s not dwelling on it. He’s ready to play football and win games.