NORMAN, Okla. – UCLA coach Chip Kelly believes his day against Oklahoma might have gone better with some help from the Oakland Athletics.
The A's selected Oklahoma quarterback Kyler Murray with the ninth overall pick in the Major League Baseball draft. They signed him for nearly $5 million but allowed him to come back to school and play football.
Kelly wished negotiations had gone differently. Murray passed for three touchdowns and ran for two, and No. 6 Oklahoma defeated UCLA 49-21 on Saturday.
"The only guy I would say I'm disappointed in is Billy Beane," Kelly said, joking about the A's executive. "I wish he gave the kid more money. If there was a little bit bigger prize, maybe number 1 wasn't out there because he's a real talented player."
It wasn't all smooth for Oklahoma. The Sooners lost star running back Rodney Anderson to a leg injury. Anderson ran for 10 yards on the final play of the first quarter, and then got up slowly. He limped off on his own, and trainers tended to the preseason All-Big 12 pick before he headed to the locker room. He was back on the bench later, out of uniform.
Oklahoma coach Lincoln Riley was unsure of Anderson's status going forward. "We're hoping for the best."
Murray picked up the slack with 306 yards passing and 69 yards rushing. Kelly was impressed with how Murray has stepped in for No. 1 overall NFL draft pick Baker Mayfield.
"You think there would be a big drop-off when you go from a Heisman Trophy winner, but that kid's very special," Kelly said.
