It certainly was a one two gut punch last November for the Oklahoma Sooners Football program.
First, the rare loss to the okie pokies, and then finding out the next day the main reason for the rare loss.
A coach who had one foot out the door, and knew that winning that game and going to the Big 12 Title
game would actually make it harder to leave.
Yes, Oklahoma’s 22nd head coach in school history decided that a move to the SEC was going to be too challenging for his taste and took off for the west coast where the easier competition would be more to his liking.
Lying through his teeth, he said that the decision to leave took place on the Sunday after the Bedlam game when he was contacted for the first time by USC about their head coaching position.
All the while his kids had been pulled out of school for several weeks prior to that Sunday. And even if he himself had not spoken to USC officials, you know his agent started speaking with them the moment Todd Helton was fired by the Trojans.
Even though it stung for a while, in the end we now know that someone who would leave Oklahoma for
another college football job is someone who is not cut from the same cloth as Bud Wilkinson, Barry
Switzer and Bob Stoops.
And that is someone we don’t want or need. As such a new era of football in Oklahoma begins this coming Saturday afternoon when Brent Venables takes the sidelines once again at Owen Field, but this time as the 23rd head coach of the Oklahoma Sooners.
When “He Who Shall Not Be Named” abruptly left, the powers that be moved quickly to bring in Venables and steady a rocking boat.
So far it seems that he has done just that. With the exception of the Cale Gundy fiasco, things have
gone about as well as they could have with a new coach at a blueblood program.
Even with the loss of the players that jumped ship along with coach Muleshoe, Venables has been able to make sure the cupboard is far from bare. From returning starters such as Marvin Mims, Theo Wease and Woodi Washington to incoming transfers Dillion Gabriel, McKade Mettauer and Jeffery Johnson, there is a lot of talent on this team.
Many are picking the Sooners to win the Big 12 for the seventh time in eight seasons. And as usual, OU fans expectations are once again high for the upcoming season.
A record 75,000 people attended the spring game this year. Anything short of a Big 12 Title and a possible CFP appearance will be a disappointment. But that is always the standard for Oklahoma. And I think Brent Venables is the right person to shoulder those expectations.
While the high flying offenses of what’s his name were fun to watch, it was becoming apparent that he either couldn’t care less, or had no idea how to field complementary defenses. Or even hire someone who could.
With the exception of the Cale Gundy fiasco, things have gone about as well as they could have with a new coach at a blueblood program.
Venables has brought in a solid transfer quarterback and hired one of the best up and coming offensive coordinators in the country, Jeff Lebby, to run the offense. And we all know that with Venables, the defense will most assuredly be miles and away better than what was being trotted out there the past five years.
Add to this the return of strength coach Jerry Schmidt and you can see why OU fans are very excited about this new chapter of Oklahoma Football.
That new chapter begins this Saturday afternoon when UTEP comes to town to collect a paycheck and hopefully avoid injuries after losing their season opening game against North Texas in week zero.
The spread in this game is 31 ½ points. Whether or not OU beats the spread really depends on what OU wants to work on in this glorified scrimmage. A win by 50 points or a win by 25 points isn’t really going to tell us much.
So as nothing is 100% certain, the Worry Meter is only at 1 percent this week. I have a feeling that the program is in good hands with Brent Venables.
And I hope I’m around to see his statue go up next to Bennie, Bud, Barry and Bob. With all that being said…BOOMER!!!
— Dave
Kickoff: 2;30 pm Saturday OU vs. UTEP
Worry Meter: 1 percent
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