Oklahoma RB Joe Mixon’s first interview since suspension was a confusing mess

Oklahoma running back Joe Mixon spoke to the media for the first time as a Sooner, due to mandatory media availability at the Orange Bowl. Orange Bowl officials reportedly mandated media members ask him “football only” questions, an apparently empty threat, since he was asked several questions that went unanswered.

Oklahoma athletic director Joe Castiglione said that the decision to not have Mixon talk about the incident was made by Mixon’s legal counsel.

This is notable, because Mixon accepted a plea deal in October 2014 after he was accused of punching a woman and breaking four bones in her face. He entered an Alford plea, meaning he recognized that the prosecution had enough evidence to find him guilty, though he maintains innocence. Prosecutors had access to video of the incident, but it was never released. (Notable: Norman police allegedly deleted this tweet about Mixon.)

Mixon was suspended for a year by Oklahoma, and he has not been available to the media in this season, his first year back with the team.

In his media availability at the Orange Bowl, Mixon showed no remorse for the incident.

Oklahoma backed itself into a corner by allowing Mixon to be shielded from the media. The Sooners are stuck because they allowed him back on the team, apparently while allowing lawyers to dictate terms of his public comments.