Mayfield practices, but illness lingers
CARSON, CALIF. — Helmet in hand, Baker Mayfield took a swig of his blue Gatorade on a practice field at the StubHub Center under the hot midafternoon California sun.
Dozens of Oklahoma players were on the fields for the Sooners’ open practice, but every eye and camera was trained on the Heisman-winning quarterback as he made a couple throws during the 15 minutes of media access Friday afternoon.
Mayfield’s playing status has never really been in doubt for Monday’s Rose Bowl (4:10 p.m., ESPN), but his repeated absence at team functions and media availability has infused the week with questions about the quarterback’s effectiveness following a flu-like sickness.
When Mayfield missed a scheduled appearance at the Disneyland opening news conference Wednesday, coach Lincoln Riley simply told reporters Mayfield was sick, but he’d be fine.
“He’s sick,” Riley said Wednesday. “He’s going to
live ... He’s fine. He’ll be ready to play.”
Mayfield, who looked a little pale at Friday’s open practice, didn’t attend the Lawry’s Beef Bowl in Beverly Hills on Thursday night before also missing a media session he was scheduled to attend Friday morning.
Instead, running back Rodney Anderson attended in Mayfield’s place.
Even without Mayfield present, most of the morning still revolved around him.
Anderson and the other OU players at the press junket were repeatedly asked about Mayfield’s condition and outlook, and each gave the same refrain every time.
“You’ll have to ask Coach Riley about that tomorrow,” they said.
When pressed for more details, fullback Dimitri Flowers laughed.
“You’re going to have to talk to Coach Riley,” he said. “I can’t crack.”
Offensive tackle Orlando Brown admitted it was a little strange to go through so many events without Mayfield, a guy who thrives being at the center of attention.
“Not having him there has been a little weird,” Brown said. “Obviously not having him here at this press conference is a little weird. He’s our heartbeat, and it’s been a little weird with him not being around as much.”
Even with Mayfield’s absence from some events, the Georgia players aren’t adjusting their game plan for the Sooners’ high-powered offense.
“I don’t know if you could even prepare not to play the Heisman winner,” linebacker Lorenzo Carter said. “I mean, he’s the Heisman winner. It’s the Rose Bowl. This is the playoffs. You can’t expect anything other than him going out there and playing at 110 percent.”
Like the OU coaches, Georgia defensive coordinator Mel Tucker also wants Mayfield to be healthy for Monday’s game. For Georgia’s defense, going up against the top quarterback in the country is what makes the playoffs even more special.
“Really, in a game like this, you expect him to be at his best,” Tucker said. “We want him to be at his best. That’s part of the challenge and the competition factor, and this is what it’s all about.
“So we’ll see, but that’s not part of our thinking is that he’s going to be anything less than what we’ve seen.”
Obviously not having him here at this press conference is a little weird. He’s our heartbeat, and it’s been a little weird with him not being around as much.”
Offensive tackle Orlando Brown