Part 8/12:
John Matisz's injury and lack of practice clearly affected his performance. After the game, he acknowledged that he was physically ready but mentally out of sync—mistake-laden and underperforming, with three interceptions and little offensive firepower. Many analysts believe that he should not have played, especially given how the game unfolded and the risk of further injury.
This raises questions about Oklahoma's coaching decisions, especially Brent Venables' handling of the quarterback situation. Some critics argued that starting Matisz was a misstep, and that inserting Michael Hawkins Jr. might have provided a spark without risking further injury or poor performance.