Oklahoma athletic director Roger Denny criticized the Southeastern Conference for postponing the Sooners’ game against Ole Miss following a nationwide FAA ground stop.
The game, originally set for Saturday in Norman, was moved to Sunday after flight disruptions prevented the visiting team from traveling, “the SEC postponed the game to Sunday”, according to Yahoo Sports.
Denny issued a statement late Friday night condemning the decision, noting that “the choice to move the game back a day isn’t fair to our athlete, our institution or to Sooner Nation.”
In an interview with On3, Denny described the league’s decision as “inexplicable” given the logistical burden placed on the university.
He argued that the conference prioritized the travel needs of Ole Miss over the effort required to redirect thousands of fans and prepare the campus for a rescheduled event.
The SEC stated that a late-night departure could not be accommodated by the charter company contracted by Ole Miss, per Yahoo Sports.
The university relies on Tupelo Regional Airport, located about 50 minutes from campus, which faces operational limitations including restricted tower hours and a lack of regular commercial service.
Flight records indicate the Ole Miss charter was scheduled to depart shortly after the FAA issued the ground stop on Friday afternoon.
The nationwide order, which triggered widespread cancellations, lasted until Friday evening, impacting pilot duty hour limits and available crew resources.
When asked if the public dispute had damaged his relationship with the SEC, Denny stated that he remains focused on his primary obligations.
“My job and my duty is to our players, our university, and our fan base,” Denny told On3.
He added that he did not care if league officials disapproved of his public stance regarding the scheduling change.