Sooners fans start angry chant against Spencer Rattler

The Oklahoma Sooners crowd wants to replace quarterback Spencer Rattler, and they let him know with a chant in the second quarter against West Virginia. With the game tied at 7, fans could be heard saying “We want Caleb,” as Rattler walked off the field after an interception.

Caleb Williams, Rattler’s backup, is a true freshman and the No. 1 overall player in On3’s class of 2021 recruiting rankings. He saw limited action in the Sooners’ blowout victory against Western Carolina, going 5-of-10 for 84 yards.

At halftime with his team trailing 10-7, Rattler was 7-of-11 for 73 yards, one touchdown and an interception. The starting quarterback for the Sooners last season, Rattler is no stranger to getting benched. After a poor start against Texas in last year’s Red River Rivalry game, he was briefly replaced by Tanner Mordecai.

After beginning the year as one of the leading candidates for the Heisman Trophy, Rattler has struggled. In the season opener against Tulane he threw for more interceptions (2) than touchdowns (1) as Oklahoma narrowly escaped an upset.

Rattler re-entered the game for one more drive after the chant took place. Perhaps shaken from the disrespect, he had an incompletion and a sack as the Sooners went three-and-out.

As much as the crowd would like to put the blame solely on Rattler, there were other issues in the first half. For instance, the Sooners managed just 18 yards rushing. Oklahoma coach Lincoln Riley clearly has trust in his quarterback, as Rattler again led the Sooners out onto the field in the second half.

The Sooners have had two Heisman-winning quarterbacks in the past five seasons. Baker Mayfield took the award in 2016 while Kyler Murray claimed it the following season. Many believed Rattler could be the next in line, but he clearly has a lot more to prove before he gets there.

Either way, it doesn’t appear the OU crowd will get its wish to replace Spencer Rattler. At least not until this game is well out of hand.