Oklahoma

How Oklahoma Coach Brent Venables Now Shifts Focus to His Game Week Debut

Published

3 years ago

August 26, 2022

How Oklahoma Coach Brent Venables Now Shifts Focus to His Game Week Debut

NORMAN — Brent Venables is three days away from his very first sport week as a head soccer coach.

After two extra practices Friday and Saturday, the Sooners report again from their scheduled time without work on Sunday, after which they’ll formally be in sport prep for UTEP subsequent Saturday.

Venables has a deep nicely of information from which to attract, and he’s making an attempt to arrange for each state of affairs — however you may inform he’s nonetheless a bit nervous.

Brent Venables

John E. Hoover / AllSooners

“We’ll get our guys to have a stage of consolation for what to anticipate across the nook,” Venables mentioned after observe Thursday night time. “So we’ll do this tomorrow, every little thing from crew lodge to champion stroll to gameday simulation. So we’ll work on that. Halftime, how we single the alma mater, all these issues shall be rehearsed earlier than we get there subsequent week.

“And there shall be loads of issues that occur and also you’re like, ‘Man, want I woulda considered that.’ You simply study and also you develop, you already know? You’re no completely different than a participant. I’m a freshman. Proper? And I gotta develop up fast.”

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Being round Dabo Swinney at Clemson for the earlier decade, and Bob Stoops at OU for the 13 years earlier than that, gave him a basis of information. He is aware of what the group and construction and procedures ought to appear like.

However he’s by no means truly accomplished it himself.

Venables mentioned “you need to” venture what he gleaned from Swinney, Stoops and even possibly a bit Invoice Snyder through the years.

“As I had a gathering with our athletic director — we meet as soon as every week — and I informed him immediately, you form of undergo it that first time,” Venables mentioned. “On the finish of the day, you’ve acquired a script, you’ve acquired a schedule and also you attempt to be detail-oriented. However you gotta undergo it, too. And till you do, it’s by no means the identical. So we’ll attempt to do this like we do every little thing else.”

Venables focus so far has been cut up between program-building and recruiting and observe.

Now he has to navigate actually essentially the most urgent difficulty a coach faces: the best way to greatest get by way of a sport week. There isn’t a room for errors now. The true focus, he mentioned, has been on the every day grind of preseason camp.

“In all probability simply to be how we observe,” he mentioned. “Make it possible for, once more, we don’t crescendo too quickly, that we don’t peak on the mistaken time. That we perceive that you simply gotta pressure ‘em, you gotta get in form, you gotta construct endurance, and develop a toughness and an perspective, however you additionally gotta get your guys to some extent the place they’re recent and wholesome so we are able to play quick and be explosive. So managing that, what you’re feeling, instincts, what your eyes let you know, is a giant a part of that.”

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Oklahoma

Fresh Faces: Transfer TE Carson Kent Has Found ‘Genuine Team’ at Oklahoma

Published

16 hours ago

May 27, 2025

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Fresh Faces: Transfer TE Carson Kent Has Found ‘Genuine Team’ at Oklahoma

A late-night text from Brent Venables changed the trajectory of Carson Kent’s football career.

Kent, a tight end who played at Kennesaw State in 2024, entered the transfer portal after the season. On a December night, he had his bags packed to visit an unnamed university the next day — but then he received a message from OU’s head coach.

“Coach Venables, he texted me really late at night and asked me to hop on a plane,” Kent said.

A native of Georgia, Kent has long admired the Southeastern Conference and its football prowess. That made his spontaneous decision to visit Norman easier.

“I was honestly kind of speechless when I saw that text,” Kent said. “I was like, ‘Yes, I want to check out that culture.’ Honestly, I should’ve probably been in bed at that time. I probably would’ve missed his text if I went to bed when I should’ve.”

Once Kent arrived in Norman, he knew it was the right spot for him.

“The number one thing was just looking for a genuine team,” Kent said. “I was looking for that. I was visiting a few places. When I got here and met Coach Venables and saw the environment that he’s built, I was sold on it. It seemed like he had a great group of players and coaches that share the mindset.”

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Kent, listed at 6-4 and 244 pounds, played three seasons at Kennesaw State.

In 2022, he appeared in just one game and redshirted. Then, as a redshirt freshman in 2023, he was second on the team with 14 catches. And in his final year at KSU, Kent played in 11 games, finishing the year with 217 yards and three touchdowns on 18 receptions.

In only a few months at OU, Kent has gotten the impression that he’ll play a major role in the Sooners’ offense.

The leadership and knowledge from offensive coordinator Ben Arbuckle and tight ends coach Joe Jon Finley was another key selling point for Kent.

“Coach Finley, he’s a great guy,” Kent said. “He’s been the same kind of guy since my visit. I’ve loved him, loved how he approaches the game. He was telling me that I’m a good player but I can be a great player.

“(Arbuckle’s) a genius when it comes to offensive philosophy. I’m excited to be in his offense and see what I can do.”

Kent is one of several tight end newcomers on OU’s roster.

The Sooners picked up two others — Will Huggins (Pittsburg State), John Locke Jr. — from the transfer portal. They also signed Trynae Washington, a tight end from Carl Albert High School in Midwest City, in their 2025 recruiting class. OU’s only tight ends returning from 2024 are Kaden Helms, Kade McIntyre and Jaren Kanak, all of whom played minimal roles in 2024.

Offensive lineman Troy Everett believes that Kent will stand out in the new-look tight end room.

“The one that’s really impressed me the most is Carson Kent,” Everett said. “I love all the guys, but Carson Kent, he’s out there catching everything. Ball gets thrown up to him, he’s coming down with it nine out of 10 times.”

After a few months of learning OU’s offense during spring ball, Kent feels prepared to be a key contributor in 2025.

“It’s been great getting to know the offense,” Kent said. “The number one thing is (Arbuckle) knows how to use his personnel. He knows where to put them to go win. Once I finally got in the offense, I was like wow, this can really help my game from route running and blocking.”

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Oklahoma

Oklahoma City’s towel tornado tradition explained – How the Thunder soak their reporter in the NBA’s weirdest celebration | NBA News – Times of India

Published

1 day ago

May 26, 2025

Press Room

Denver Nuggets at Oklahoma City Thunder (Image via Imagn).

The Oklahoma City Thunder have become one of the NBA’s most exciting teams, not just for their dominant play but for their quirky postgame celebrations. Their latest tradition—drowning sideline reporter Nick Gallo in a cascade of towels—has taken social media by storm, showcasing the team’s youthful energy and camaraderie.

How the OKC Thunder towel celebration works

After a win, Thunder players gather around during postgame interviews with FanDuel Sports Network’s Nick Gallo. As the interview wraps up, players bombard Gallo with towels, piling them on until he’s nearly buried under the fabric. The chaotic yet lighthearted moment has become a signature celebration for the team.The tradition’s exact origins are unclear, but Gallo has been a good sport, often playing along with the team’s antics. Last season, he was part of their barking ritual, and now, the towel shower has become the new viral trend.

The players behind the OKC Thunder’s towel celebration

The entire team gets involved, but key contributors include Aaron Wiggins, Jalen Williams, Jaylin Williams, and Luguentz Dort. Even MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander has joined in, though he once jokingly scolded his teammates for going too far. After one particularly aggressive towel dump, Gilgeous-Alexander stepped in, saying, “Y’all, you got to chill. I’m sorry Nick. The children, I’m so sorry” (H/t: Sporting News). Gallo, for his part, takes it in stride. He told ESPN’s Malika Andrews that he stays focused on the interview, acknowledging how rare it is to win an NBA game.

Why the OKC Thunder’s towel celebration resonates with fans

The Thunder’s success has made the tradition even more fun to watch. With 68 regular-season wins—tying them for the fifth-most in NBA history—and a deep playoff run, the team has given fans plenty of reasons to celebrate. Their chemistry and playful nature make them one of the league’s most likable squads. As long as the Thunder keep winning, expect more towel showers for Gallo—and more viral moments for fans to enjoy.Also read: Minnesota Timberwolves vs OKC Thunder final injury report for Western Conference Finals Game 4 – Is Julius Randle playing tonight? (May 26, 2025)The Thunder’s towel celebration is more than just a silly postgame ritual—it’s a reflection of a team that’s winning, having fun, and embracing the moment. Whether they’re burying Nick Gallo in towels or cracking jokes mid-interview, Oklahoma City’s chemistry is undeniable. And with a roster this talented and this entertaining, the NBA world can’t look away. So keep an eye on those postgame interviews—because as long as the Thunder keep piling up wins, the towel showers (and the laughs) aren’t stopping anytime soon. Who knows? Maybe Gallo should start bringing a raincoat.

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