It wasn’t great. But it wasn’t bad.
For a debut of a new head coach, new quarterback and many other players, the game acceptably set the Sooners ship back on course after a tumultuous end of last season.
And it marked the beginning of the head coaching career of what may be the next legendary skipper.
That is my take on Oklahoma’s 45-13 win over an overmatched UTEP on a miserably humid Saturday in Norman.
“At the end of the day, it was going to be about Oklahoma re-establishing the soul and the spirit of this program,” Venables said after the game.
Clearly, the Sooners did just that as soon as they stepped off the bus, to be greeted by several hundred screaming fans who lined the Jenkins Avenue path to the stadium.
The Oklahoma offense was effective and balanced, amassing 259 yards rushing and 233 yards passing. It had no turnovers.
QB Dillon Gabriel, the most anticipated new player on the team, passed for two touchdowns and ran for another.
No more having to see Gabriel in a blue practice jersey. His No. 8 is the sign of a gamer.
Eric Gray rushed for 102 yards, his first game performance for more than 100 yards. Brayden Willis caught two of QB Gabriel’s passes for touchdowns. RB Marcus Major ran for two TDs.
Perhaps the play that fans will most remember was a 46 yard reverse by true freshman receiver Gavin Freeman for a touchdown on his first touch of the ball.
“He’s a fearless guy. You saw on that play today, somebody about put him together like an accordion when they hit him, but he just bounced off, stiff armed another dude and scored,” Venables said of Freeman.
At one point in the second half it appeared the Sooners were becoming a victim of their own success.
Their first three scoring drives (to take a 21-0 lead) happened so quickly they left a three-to-one time of possession disparity in favor of UTEP. That meant the OU defense was on the field even more, forcing coaches to liberally substitute. One UTEP drive against OU subs closed the score to 21-10.
At the end of the day, it was going to be about Oklahoma re-establishing the soul and the spirit of this program — Venables.
A staunch run defense by Oklahoma held UTEP’s ground game to only 28 yards.
Defensive end Reggie Grimes was a beast. He led the spirited defense with 2 1/2 sacks in the first half, including one in the last play of the second quarter to thwart a UTEP scoring threat.
“I think he played fantastic,” defensive coordinator Ted Roof said. “I was really, really happy for him because he’s put in so much work in this offseason. “
The day ended in an emotional moment in the locker room, when OU athletic director Joe Castiglione presented the game ball to the new coach and the team erupted into celebration.
Speechless… @CoachVenables #OUDNA pic.twitter.com/oFHl1xVbI7
— Oklahoma Football (@OU_Football) September 4, 2022
Despite the relatively easy first win, Venables said there was room for improvement.
“I want them to enjoy this one,” he said. “But on Monday, we’re going to strip this thing down to the studs and start over again.”
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