Brent Venables: Oklahoma ‘Sent a Message’ to College Football With Big Spring Game

DALLAS – Brent Venables needed to “Pack the Palace” for Oklahoma’s annual spring recreation final month.

It was a significant speaking level for the brand new head coach of the Sooners all by spring camp main as much as the sport on April 23 – and the followers delivered.

A program-record 75,360 folks piled into Gaylord Household – Oklahoma Memorial Stadium on that fateful Saturday afternoon, essentially the most of any spring recreation throughout the nation in 2022.

It was a chance for OU followers to have their voices be heard throughout the faculty soccer world after an offseason full of shake-ups, to which they completely responded.

However to Venables, this was way over only a large show of Oklahoma delight – as an alternative serving as a loud “message” to the remainder of school soccer.

“We despatched a message that greatest is the usual,” Venables instructed OU followers at a Coaches Caravan cease in Dallas on Thursday evening. “That’s what it appears to be like like. That’s what excellence appears to be like like. That’s what being ‘all in’ appears to be like like. That’s what dedication appears to be like like. That’s what Sooners seem like.”

With the nationwide narrative over the course of the winter seemingly being one to throw dust on Oklahoma within the wake of Lincoln Riley and Caleb Williams’ departures for USC, Venables noticed the spectacular crowd turnout as a reminder of the place OU resides within the hierarchy of school soccer.

“It despatched a message to varsity soccer how vital Oklahoma soccer is,” Venables stated. “That is the winningest crew in school soccer since 1940. Been essentially the most constant program in school soccer since 1999. The one program that has not had a shedding season in all of school soccer (since 1999). 50 convention championships, Alabama second at 29. So, simply be sure that we all know who we’re.”

However, whereas Venables is definitely greater than keen to acknowledge the previous at Oklahoma, his eyes are squarely on the longer term.

He reminds the crew frequently that whereas it’s vital to know the historical past of this system, the 2022 version of the Sooners haven’t completed something…but.

“That is Group 128,” Venables stated. “128th crew within the historical past of Oklahoma soccer. And this crew, I do know all people is worked up, however this crew hasn’t earned something. I do know we’re all excited concerning the spring recreation and what an incredible displaying that was by the followers. I do know our gamers appreciated that. (It) gave our gamers an actual alternative to play in what a recreation day environment goes to seem like in Norman, Oklahoma.

“However, this crew hasn’t earned something but. So I’m actually excited concerning the work this crew is on the point of put in. They don’t put championship rings on clean palms. You bought to place the work in.”

Whereas the Sooners are undeniably one of many blue bloods of school soccer with success that rivals nearly some other program within the nation, the eighth nationwide title in program historical past has confirmed to be elusive.

Regardless of seemingly at all times being a contender, Oklahoma’s final championship came to visit twenty years in the past when OU defeated Florida State for the 2000 crown.

With April’s spring recreation simply serving as the start line, that is one thing Venables vows will change in his tenure in Norman. 

“It’s been 22 years since we received the nationwide championship,” Venables stated. “I’m going to inform you one factor, it’s not going to be 22 extra earlier than we win that subsequent one. I promise you.”