UTEP vs. Oklahoma – Game Preview – September 3, 2022 – ESPN

NORMAN, Okla. — — Lastly, Brent Venables will get his shot.

The person who helped construct dominant defenses in 26 years as an assistant coach at Kansas State, Oklahoma and Clemson will make his head teaching debut Saturday when ninth-ranked Oklahoma hosts UTEP.

“The thrill, the anticipation is actual,” Venables mentioned. “Our guys have labored extremely arduous for the final eight months – coaches and gamers – making ready for this. That is what you’re employed for. … It’s that point to play someone else, to go compete and sort of see the place we’re at.”

Venables, 51, plans to maintain his typical power on the sideline.

“That’s all the time who I’ve been,” he mentioned. “If you love what you do, I believe that exhibits. To me, I believe that’s how I used to be as a participant. As a coach, I believe it comes from a thankfulness, having a gratitude for no matter alternative that you’ve got as effectively.”

The fan base has shared Venables” power since coach Lincoln Riley left the Sooners for Southern California. The Sooners consider they will thrive with quarterback Dillon Gabriel, a switch from Central Florida who already has handed for 70 touchdowns and greater than 8,000 yards in his profession.

Gabriel is not the one new face. Greater than half the roster has by no means performed in a recreation for Oklahoma, leaving the Sooners feeling like they’ve a lot to show.

“There’s a positively like a chip on our shoulder simply to come back out and play ball,” unhappy Oklahoma receiver Marvin Mims, one of many high holdovers. “I imply, not even actually about who we misplaced, however simply to exit and play ball with a brand new tradition, new workforce, new identification. We simply need to go on the market and present that.”

Venables gained’t take UTEP evenly. He performed for Kansas State when UTEP coach Dana Dimel was an assistant there, they usually later have been assistant coaches collectively at Kansas State. And although the Miners misplaced their opener 31-13 to North Texas, Venables mentioned the sport was a couple of performs from entering into a a lot totally different route.

“They’re a bowl workforce,” Venables mentioned. “Dana’s performed a terrific job constructing that program the correct means, with confidence and toughness and physicality.”

Dimel mentioned UTEP will method the sport as if it has nothing to lose.

“Any time you play a top-10 workforce like this and also you’re a Group of 5 workforce, that’s a part of the mentality that you simply take,” he mentioned. “Nobody is anticipating you to win the sport, however if you happen to can win the sport, it will be a very large step to your program.”

NO GUNDY

It will likely be the primary time because the begin of the 1999 season that Cale Gundy gained’t be an assistant coach for the Sooners.

Gundy, who was an assistant head coach and a receivers coach, introduced his resignation on Aug. 7. The varsity mentioned the following day that he uttered a racially charged phrase a number of instances whereas studying off a participant’s machine throughout a movie session the earlier week.

Gundy, a former Oklahoma quarterback, was concerned in additional victories as a participant and coach than any participant at school historical past, with 235 wins as an assistant coach and 31 as a participant.

L’Damian Washington is the interim receivers coach.

GABRIEL’S TARGETS

Mims caught 32 passes for 705 yards and 5 scores final season. Theo Wease is again after lacking most of final season with a foot harm. He caught 37 passes for 530 yards and 4 touchdowns in 2020. Drake Stoops, a gentle choice, has caught 41 passes for 521 yards in his profession. Sophomore Jalil Farooq earned a beginning spot after catching simply 4 passes final season. Tight finish Brayden Willis is again after beginning eight of the ultimate 9 video games final season.

UTEP’S FIELD GENERAL

UTEP quarterback Gavin Hardison handed for 293 yards and rushed for 29 within the opener. His 3,217 yards passing final season have been fifth on the college’s single-season record.

“Their finest participant arguably is the quarterback,” Venables mentioned. “He’s a terrific chief, every thing goes by means of him. Actually robust man.”

DYNAMIC DUO

UTEP receivers Reynaldo Flores and Tyrin Smith had strong performances within the opening loss to North Texas. Flores caught eight passes for 122 yards and Smith caught seven for 127 yards and a landing.

OKLAHOMA CAPTAINS

Oklahoma’s captains for the opener can be Gabriel, linebacker DaShaun White, tight finish Brayden Willis, linebacker David Ugwoegbu and defensive again Justin Broiles.

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Comply with Cliff Brunt on Twitter: twitter.com/CliffBruntAP

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