Civil court rules Joe Mixon video is public record, big trouble coming for Oklahoma?
By Hayden Hyde
The Oklahoma Court of Civil Appeals recently ruled a video that depicts Oklahoma Sooner running back Joe Mixon assaulting a woman is public record.
Joe Mixon was ranked as a five-star running back prospect by Rivals in 2014, and deservingly so. On the field, Mixon has a unique combination of size and speed that many players could only dream of possessing.
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During the summer before his freshman season, the talented running back was arrested and charged with misdemeanor assault after punching a woman in the face.
The University of Oklahoma suspended Mixon from all team activities for the entire season.
He served his suspension, and according to head coach Bob Stoops, “earned a way to be back to have an opportunity for a second chance to redeem himself with strict guidelines that go with it.”
In 2015, Mixon found himself splitting touches with talented Samaje Perine. He carried the ball 113 times for 753 yards and seven touchdowns and added another 356 yards and four receiving touchdowns. Mixon is clearly a dynamic playmaker for the Sooners and is an important piece in their offense.
Nonetheless, football isn’t everything.
Violence toward women has become a hot topic in sports, especially after how the NFL fumbled the Greg Hardy and Ray Rice cases.
Rice was given a meager suspension by the NFL, but he was released by the Ravens after a video of him punching his then-fiancee, now wife in an elevator surfaced. He hasn’t been signed to a team since.
Deadspin released pictures of Greg Hardy’s victim midway through the 2015 season, and it sounds like the Cowboys have no intention of resigning him.
If this video hits the public, I really think Mixon could fall into the same boat, despite the punishment he’s already faced.
You know this Joe Mixon video is awful when Oklahoma -- and its legal allies -- are pulling out every step to avoid releasing it.
— Clay Travis (@ClayTravis) February 23, 2016
If you’re curious about what the tape entails, The Oklahoman describes it here. But be warned the language is disturbing.
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People have fought to have the tape released since late 2014, and they’re still fighting today. Now that the Oklahoma Court of Appeals has deemed it public record, we may get it.
Now the ruling will move on the a district court, which will make the final decision.
Mixon will have 20 days to appeal, so the video will most likely be released sometime mid-March at the earliest.