Oklahoma Sooners defenders Eric Striker and Hatari Byrd will face internal punishment for taunting Tennessee fans after the team's overtime victory over the Volunteers this past Saturday in Knoxville.
Sooners head coach Bob Stoops announced the news Monday, per NewsOK.com's Berry Tramel:
Their actions in the heat of the moment and all emotionally are absolutely inappropriate, and they'll be dealt with in an educational manner. ... We'll handle it internally. [...] There's no excuse...[but] they play out there in a controlled rage. You just don't go out there and be all mild-mannered and it all works out for you.
There was reason for Oklahoma to bask in the glory of victory after staging a stunning rally to overcome a 17-0 deficit and stun Tennessee 31-24 in overtime. Unfortunately, Byrd took it too far by raising his middle finger to the crowd afterward, while Striker talked trash to spectators.
When Striker was in front of the Sooner supporters who made the trip, though, Volunteers coach Butch Jones approached him and essentially told him to wise up. Per Tramel, Stoops stated Monday he didn't know anything about that exchange but said he has respect for Jones.
Striker described the exchange with Jones, per USA Today's Nicole Auerbach:
I was over there, just like, 'Yeah!' and talking to our fans, he grabbed me and was like, 'Hey, Eric, you're a helluva player, but have some damn class.' I just shrugged it off. [...] [I] didn't see what was so classless about that. I'm just a passionate competitor. We win and I'm gonna stick my chest out a little bit. I wasn't trying to be classless, I didn't think that there was something wrong with that.
ESPN Central Texas' Craig Smoak actually praised Striker for gloating a bit afterward and didn't seem to see any harm in it:
Even if there were no ill intent behind his actions, it appears Striker will face some sort of consequence, but Byrd is the case to worry more about. Although it's unclear what exactly Striker said other than telling Tennessee fans to send their recruits to Oklahoma, per Tramel, Byrd's conduct was most unbecoming.
This is another troubling incident for Byrd, a junior free safety who was cited in January as a minor for possession of drug paraphernalia and alcohol.
Striker is an undersized but explosive pass-rusher who had nine sacks last year and is a key senior leader for this Sooners team. At least the discipline figures to be minimal—and it also helps that Oklahoma doesn't face an opponent in the current Top 25 in the country again until Nov. 14's road trip to Baylor.
via http://bleacherreport.com/articles/2566570-eric-striker-hatari-byrd-facing-discipline-for-conduct-after-oklahoma-tennessee
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