In a Rough first half, Oklahoma fans chant for Caleb Williams

Rattler throws an interception, inciting OU fans to call for his backup.

John E. Hoover|

In a Rough first half, Oklahoma fans chant for Caleb Williams

NORMAN — Oklahoma football fans didn’t hide their disdain for quarterback Spencer Rattler on Saturday night.

During an uneven first half against West Virginia in which Rattler struggled — both with finding time to pass and delivering the ball to his receivers — the crowd began to chant for Rattler’s backup, Caleb Williams.

“We want Caleb! (clap, clap, clap-clap-clap) We want Caleb!”

Rattler had just thrown a dreadful interception before the chant started.

He floated a pass to Drake Stoops, was open behind the WVU secondary, but the ball was badly underthrown.

Cornerback Daryl Porter charged the ball, but it went through his hands. Still, the ball was so badly underthrown that another WVU defender, backup corner Jackie Matthews, made the catch as fans began to boo.

Trailing 10-7 at halftime following a field goal as time expired, the Sooners’ offensive problems continued against the Mountaineers’ defense, producing only seven points. It’s the third game this season OU has scored only once in a half (three points in the second half against Tulane, seven points in the first half against Nebraska).

Rattler completed 7-of-11 passes for just 73 yards with one touchdown pass to Austin Stogner.

Published Sep 26, 2021

John is an award-winning journalist whose work spans five decades in Oklahoma, with multiple state, regional and national awards as a sportswriter at various newspapers. During his newspaper career, John covered the Dallas Cowboys, the Kansas City Chiefs, the Oklahoma Sooners, the Oklahoma State Cowboys, the Arkansas Razorbacks and much more. In 2016, John changed careers, migrating into radio and launching a YouTube channel, and has built a successful independent media company, DanCam Media. From there, John has written under the banners of Sporting News, Sports Illustrated, Fan Nation and a handful of local and national magazines while hosting daily sports talk radio shows in Oklahoma City, Tulsa and statewide. John has also spoken on Capitol Hill in Oklahoma City in a successful effort to put more certified athletic trainers in Oklahoma public high schools. Among the dozens of awards he has won, John most cherishes his national "Beat Writer of the Year" from the Associated Press Sports Editors, Oklahoma's "Best Sports Column" from the Society of Professional Journalists, and Two "Excellence in Sports Medicine Reporting" Awards from the National Athletic Trainers Association. John holds a bachelor's degree in Mass Communications from East Central University in Ada, OK. Born and raised in North Pole, Alaska, John played football and wrote for the school paper at Ada High School in Ada, OK. He enjoys books, movies and travel, and lives in Broken Arrow, OK, with his wife and two kids.

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