There has been some question about whether or not the Oklahoma Sooners would make some changes to their defensive coaching staff following a year in which the defense was a weakness all season, which came to a head in their 54-48 loss to Georgia in the Rose Bowl.
However, head coach Lincoln Riley gave defensive coordinator Mike Stoops a vote of confidence on Wednesday morning, indicating that there wouldn't be a change.
"Mike is a really good coach," Riley said. "I have a lot of confidence in him as I do our whole staff. To do what this staff and this program did this year with all the changes and all that, it’s unprecedented. People better remember that too."
Riley went on to praise his coaching staff and the coordinators for all the good they accomplished this season.
"I’m sure all of us are taking a beating right now," he said to a small group of reporters Wednesday morning. "That’s the good thing, is people can say it, but I don’t have to listen to it. That’s part of how it goes.
"The coordinators, head coach and quarterback are the people who when you don’t win a game, they’re going to take a beating. Probably the same people, who after the Big 12 championship game, when we hold down a good TCU offense and beat them twice in a row and win that, then everybody is singing your praises. That’s the nature of the beast with this deal."
Oklahoma was the only team that made the College Football Playoff without a top 10 defense, ranking No. 67 nationally in total defense (394 yards allowed per game). However, in the three games leading up to the playoff, The Sooners allowed just 17 points per game.
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