Flu-ridden Mayfield starting to snap back
Auburn RB Johnson says he’s ready to take on UCF in Monday’s Peach Bowl
LOS ANGELES — Oklahoma quarterback Baker Mayfield made it to Rose Bowl media day after all, swooping in late and providing a jolt of drama as he noted he has been dealing with “flu-like” symptoms.
The Heisman Trophy winner missed the first half of the 45-minute session Saturday morning at a downtown hotel, but arrived in time to meet with the media for the first time this week ahead of the College Football Playoff semifinal between the second-ranked Sooners and No. 3 Georgia on Monday night.
Mayfield was not expected to attend as he’s been dealing with the illness the past few days.
“Yeah, I’m not dying,” Mayfield said.
Mayfield’s unexpected entrance had reporters and camera operators scrambling to get to the dais where he was speaking, in the corner of a ballroom crowded with reporters, plus Oklahoma’s entire roster and coaching staff. Mayfield said he changed his mind about missing media day after turning on the television at the team hotel and seeing coach Lincoln Riley answering questions about the quarterback’s status.
“I realized this whole thing is not about me,” Mayfield said. “Oklahoma is here to play a playoff game. It’s not about any sickness that I have. We’re here to win a game, and that’s what it needs to be about. My teammates don’t need to answer questions on my behalf. I’m not dying. I’ll be playing.”
Drinking a cup of coffee with honey and lemon because Mayfield was sick of drinking tea, the only noticeable sign of illness was his raspy voice. That was as much a product of yelling during practice Friday as it was being under the weather, Mayfield said.
“I hope I’m 100 percent on Monday. I think I will be,” said Mayfield, who has thrown for 4,340 yards and 41 touchdowns this season.
Mayfield has been at practice each day this week. He said the practices have been a little tougher than usual.
“But I’d rather go out there and practice than have to go do other activities. I’d rather be with my teammates and working on our game plan,” Mayfield said.
He did not attend the team’s trip to Disneyland on Wednesday, dinner on Thursday or his scheduled media availability Friday.
“He’ll be ready to play,” Riley said. “Will he be at 100 percent physically? We’ll see.”
AUBURN: The biggest key to Auburn’s offensive success, running back Kerryon Johnson, says he’s “running like my old self” and is eager to play in Monday’s Peach Bowl against Central Florida.
“I feel 100 percent, finally, or as close to 100 percent as you can get at this point,” Johnson said Saturday regarding his shoulder injury. “I felt really good. I’ve been running like my old self and making moves like my old self. It’s giving me confidence and making me happy, and I’m ready to see what I can do in the real game now.”
The health of Johnson is crucial to No. 7 Auburn’s hopes to keep pace with No. 10 Central Florida, the nation’s top-scoring team.
IOWA STATE: The Cyclones were without senior defensive backs Kamari Cotton-Moya and Evrett Edwards for Saturday’s Liberty Bowl win against No. 19 Memphis.
Iowa State athletic department spokesman Mike Green said Edwards was ineligible for the game and Cotton-Moya was suspended for a violation of team rules. The reason for Edwards’ ineligibility wasn’t specified.