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OU freshman Brendan Radley-Hiles: 'Different when you love the coach you playin' for'

Joe Mussatto
by Joe Mussatto
Published: Tue, October 9, 2018 7:08 PM Updated: Tue, October 9, 2018 7:32 PM
Oklahoma's Brendan Radley-Hiles (44) blocking a pass during the second half of a college football game where the University of Oklahoma Sooners (OU) defeated the UCLA Bruins 49-21 at Gaylord Family-Oklahoma Memorial Stadium in Norman, Okla., on Saturday, Sept. 8, 2018. Photo by Steve Sisney, The Oklahoman
Oklahoma's Brendan Radley-Hiles (44) blocking a pass during the second half of a college football game where the University of Oklahoma Sooners (OU) defeated the UCLA Bruins 49-21 at Gaylord Family-Oklahoma Memorial Stadium in Norman, Okla., on Saturday, Sept. 8, 2018. Photo by Steve Sisney, The Oklahoman

While most Oklahoma players have expressed gratitude for former defensive coordinator Mike Stoops in the wake of his firing, freshman nickelback Brendan Radley-Hiles tweeted a different take Tuesday night. 

"It's different when you love the coach you playin for," Radley-Hiles tweeted. "Happy birthday OG, @RuffinMcNeill." 

The tweet, sent at 6:48 p.m. Tuesday, has since been deleted. 


Radley-Hiles tagged interim defensive coordinator Ruffin McNeill. He'll take over for Stoops, who was officially let go Monday morning, just two days after the Sooners gave up 48 points to Texas. 

OU defensive captain Kenneth Murray, right around the time of Radley-Hiles' tweet, talked about how much Stoops meant to him. 

"He gave me a shot when nobody else gave me a shot," Murray said. "You don't start as a true freshman every day. Every freshmen in the country doesn't come in and just start. He believed in me a lot from the jump. For that I'm forever grateful and forever thankful. 

"He's a great guy, a great coach and I love him to death." 

Related Photos
Oklahoma's Brendan Radley-Hiles (44) blocking a pass during the second half of a college football game where the University of Oklahoma Sooners (OU) defeated the UCLA Bruins 49-21 at Gaylord Family-Oklahoma Memorial Stadium in Norman, Okla., on Saturday, Sept. 8, 2018. Photo by Steve Sisney, The Oklahoman

Oklahoma's Brendan Radley-Hiles (44) blocking a pass during the second half of a college football game where the University of Oklahoma Sooners (OU) defeated the UCLA Bruins 49-21 at Gaylord Family-Oklahoma Memorial Stadium in Norman, Okla., on Saturday, Sept. 8, 2018. Photo by Steve Sisney, The...

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Joe Mussatto

Joe Mussatto joined The Oklahoman in August 2018 to cover OU football, men’s basketball and softball. He previously covered University of Kentucky football and basketball for SEC Country. Mussatto is from Oklahoma City and lives in Norman. Read more ›

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