Oklahoma’s fate took a 360-degree turn after a 24-17 win against Auburn. As their explosive weapon, QB John Mateer’s injury might come in the way of their 4-0 season. That’s right, after throwing for 271 yards and rushing for 29, Mateer ended up breaking a bone in his throwing arm. And the result? The guy who has put Oklahoma back on playoff chatter for the first time since 2019 will have to sit out of the game against Kent State. But his recovery might be much faster than expected, as Mateer’s hand surgeon, Dr. Steven Shin, just did magic on his hands.

So, let’s dig deeper and know about him.

Who Is Dr. Steven Shin?

Dr. Steven Shin is one of the country’s leading hand/wrist surgeons who performed this tricky procedure in Los Angeles and became a hero in Norman. Why wouldn’t he? This man saved Brent Venables’ Heisman contender and a guy who might finally give them a playoff run this season. Best part? Even Mateer couldn’t hold back his praise for Dr. Shin as he took to X, saying, “Thank God for a successful procedure,” Mateer wrote. “Dr. Shin is the GOAT. BOOMER SOONER!!”

This man’s resume explains why John Mateer called him GOAT. Dr. Syeven Shin earned his AB, MMSc, and MD degrees from Brown University, completing his orthopedic surgery residency at NYU Hospital for Joint Diseases. But the list doesn’t end there, as he also advanced all his training with a hand surgery fellowship at Stanford. Now, Dr. Shin is not only an executive vice chairman but also a professor of orthopedic surgery at Cedars-Sinai, where he made his foot strong as one of the country’s leading specialists.

The moment this news came out, fans hyped Dr. Shin up with memes and photoshopped images of him slapping Oklahoma’s “Play Like a Champion Today” banner and even driving the Sooner Schooner. Who would have thought a doctor doing his duty would become an overnight sensation for Oklahoma?

Why Did Dr. Steven Shin Become a Name in Oklahoma Football?

Look, Dr. Steven Shin is not your usual orthopedic surgeon; he is a man with 26 years of experience who has a 4.9-star rating from all his patients. And his research and unique techniques are already making people’s lives easier. That’s right; as per Dr. Shin’s blog, he uses a faster way to fix a torn thumb, which usually keeps them on the sidelines for weeks. But with his special method, which is the internal brace augmentation, the players move their thumb within days, which is nothing but a big relief for them.

Best part? This method repairs players’ thumbs stronger than normal surgery, and even though John Mateer’s situation is not clear and even the technique used is not known, there’s a high chance Dr. Shin might have opted for this technique. And that’s what makes him an overnight sensation in the hearts of Oklahoma fans. Now, his modern and advanced medical procedures might help Mateer get back on the field within weeks, and he might even play the most-awaited Red River rivalry game.

Even Oklahoma’s Attorney General Gentner Drummond backed him up saying: “I hereby issue this official commendation of Dr. Shin for single-handedly saving John Mateer’s season. BOOMER!” But what exactly this impacts Oklahoma’s run.

What impact does the surgery have on Oklahoma and College Football? 

After a rough 6-7 season, Brent Venables’s team’s position in the league was a big question mark, but then John Mateer turned things around for them. In just 4 games this guy completed 67.4% of his passes for 1,215 yards with six touchdowns and just three interceptions. On top of that, he also rushed for 190 yards and 5 TDs. And losing him at this crucial stage of the game is a big blow for the Sooners. But thanks to Dr. Shin, he might get back sooner than expected and might even lead Oklahoma to the playoffs this year.

Now that the Sooners are heading to a bye week, it might even give Mateer valuable time to recover. But if he doesn’t, what’s next for him?

What’s Next for John Mateer and Dr. Shin’s Legacy?

Oklahoma will go up against Kent State after enjoying a much-needed bye week, but the real question is what’s their plan for John Mateer’s situation? Well, for now Brent Venables made it pretty clear that Michael Hawkins Jr. will be the guy who will take up the reins against them. And the trust makes sense. As this guy threw for 783 yards with 3 touchdowns last year, filling in for Jackson Arnold when he was benched.

Even Venables praised Hawkins’s caliber and said, “He’s done a great job just keeping his head down, improving his understanding of the offense and all the fundamentals of being a quarterback. Leadership as well. Just has put together a really good body of work over the last several months.” So, it’s pretty clear that Oklahoma is not stopping anytime soon.

But for Dr. Shin it becomes an opportunity of a lifetime because if John Mateer enters the game in a few weeks, it will not only raise his value but will also back his modern technique. So, it’s going to be a crucial week for the two; let’s wait and see how things turn out before Oklahoma faces Kent State.