Venables looks to take Oklahoma program ‘from good to great’
NORMAN, Okla. (AP) — New Oklahoma coach Brent Venables respects what the Sooners have achieved in recent times, however he believes they are often even higher.
Lincoln Riley compiled a 55-10 document in 5 seasons earlier than leaving to become head coach at Southern California. Quarterbacks Baker Mayfield and Kyler Murray received Heisman trophies earlier than turning into No. 1 total picks within the NFL draft.
However Riley’s groups misplaced thrice within the Faculty Soccer Playoff semifinals and by no means received a nationwide title. Venables has used spring follow to put the inspiration for a program he believes can break via.
“We’re attempting to take this program from good to nice,” he stated. “That’s a giant step. It takes a number of intention and a number of objective to get that.”
Venables freely shares nuggets of knowledge that present how he plans to get there. Take the best way he encourages gamers to embrace challenges: “I inform the gamers it’s important to develop an intimate relationship with failure to be your finest,” he stated. “You’ll be able to’t simply find it irresistible when it’s good and it’s straightforward and it’s comfy. That’s not the place the true progress occurs. You’ve received to like all of it.”
Then, there’s the instance he supplied whereas explaining how considered one of his extra animated gamers might tweak his management abilities: “I stated, ‘Man, as a substitute of calling him out, name him up,’” Venables stated. “Name a person up. Strive that and see in case you get higher outcomes.’”
Venables has a lot to point out for his strategy — he’s been on employees for groups which have received three nationwide titles and appeared in eight nationwide championship video games. Now, the previous Clemson defensive coordinator is sustaining it as he steps ahead in his first head teaching gig.
Longtime Sooners followers keep in mind Venables’ enthusiasm from his earlier run at Oklahoma, when he helped this system win the 2000 nationwide title. He was on the employees below Bob Stoops as co-defensive coordinator from 1999 to 2003 and was defensive coordinator from 2004 to 2011.
He’s nonetheless received that fireplace. He walks round follow with a microphone and typically participates in exercises. He’s all around the particulars — on offense, too.
“It’s simply distinctive,” quarterback Dillon Gabriel stated. “He calls for quite a bit, however man, he loves us even more durable. So each time you may have that, you possibly can demand quite a bit from all the blokes.”
Todd Bates, an Oklahoma defensive assistant who adopted Venables from Clemson, stated the depth by no means wanes.
“He’s by no means going to ask you to do one thing he’s not going to do,” Bates stated. “I noticed that for 5 years at Clemson. Being able to be on his facet of the ball and undergo follow with him and see how intense that’s — it’s like life or demise on each play to him.”
Venables stated Oklahoma is heading in the right direction after a powerful spring follow.
“It’s just a bit bit extra,” he stated. “We discuss 212 levels. When the boiling water occurs, that’s how you progress a locomotive. At 211, that factor is sitting completely nonetheless. You received’t go anyplace. It wants only one extra diploma, a bit extra care. Work a bit extra, love a bit extra, react a bit extra — just a bit bit extra. That makes a distinction. If everyone has that mindset, we’ll all get the place we wish to go.”
He believes all of it begins with the instance he units. That filters into all the pieces, together with the varieties of gamers he recruits.
“I can promise you, I’m going to be the primary in line to do and never be a taker,” he stated. “I’m in search of doers. In order that’s what that’s. I wish to promote that to recruits and their households and our personal gamers and their households. They discover that. They’re human. They concentrate. And fervour comes from love.”
From there, Venables hopes the gamers do the work to show their potential into manufacturing.
“We discuss it on a regular basis — doing the laborious, soiled work at the hours of darkness,” Venables stated. “When the stands are empty, that’s once we can separate from our opponent. There needs to be actual dedication, and guys have to like getting soiled. I’m hopeful that that’ll happen.”
In return for all that effort, Venables desires the crowds in Norman to share his ardour. Though Oklahoma’s fan base is loyal, he believes Memorial Stadium may very well be louder and supply a greater homefield benefit.
“There’s a motive we’ve received a lot right here at house — among the finest house data in faculty soccer during the last 20 years,” he stated. “The group has been a giant a part of that. However we’re attempting to take it to a different stage.”
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Observe Cliff Brunt on Twitter: twitter.com/CliffBruntAP
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