Bob Stoops reacts to Oklahoma’s start, QB change vs. South Carolina

After Oklahoma turned it over on three straight possessions to start Saturday’s game against South Carolina, legendary Sooners coach Bob Stoops struggled to find words on the radio broadcast. But when OU made a QB change, he fully supported it.

Oklahoma opted to bench Michael Hawkins Jr. after two interceptions – including a pick-six – and a fumble that turned into a South Carolina touchdown. That made it a 21-0 deficit with less than 10 minutes to go in the first quarter, and Brent Venables turned to Jackson Arnold and burned his redshirt in the process.

Stoops called the start “unbelievable” as Oklahoma struggled mightily out of the gate. But when it came to the change at quarterback, he backed Venables’ decision 100%.

“I’m all for it,” Bob Stoops said on the broadcast, via Sooner Scoop’s George Stoia III.

Because it’s his fifth appearance of the season, Arnold is no longer able to take a redshirt. He officially came in the game with 9:24 to go in the first quarter following Hawkins’ pick-six.

Hawkins got off to a rough start to Saturday’s game, throwing an interception on the first play, which set up a South Carolina scoring drive. He stayed in the game on the ensuing possession, but fumbled on a sack as the Gamecocks took it back for a scoop-and-score to make it a 14-0 ballgame with 11:21 to play. Then, on the next drive, Hawkins threw a 66-yard pick-six to make it a 21-0 South Carolina lead.

That led to the decision to bring in Arnold, who hadn’t played since the Tennessee game. In that matchup, Arnold went 7-for-16 for 54 yards and an interception before the switch. Hawkins came in and completed 11 of 18 passes for 132 yards and a touchdown while also taking on a key role in the running game. All told, in his four appearances entering Saturday, he has thrown for 458 yards and a touchdown while adding 128 rushing yards and a score.

Arnold began his sophomore year as the starter after Dillon Gabriel’s departure. However, he had an up-and-down go, completing 59.8% of his passes for 538 yards, seven touchdowns and three interceptions before Brent Venables made a change. Hawkins took over amid Arnold’s struggles against Tennessee as OU went on to suffer a 25-15 loss.

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