Venables looks to take Oklahoma program ‘from good to great’ – Daily Ardmoreite

Cliff Brunt AP Sports activities Author

NORMAN (AP) — New Oklahoma coach Brent Venables respects what the Sooners have achieved lately, however he believes they are often even higher.

Lincoln Riley compiled a 55-10 document in 5 seasons earlier than leaving to turn into 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 School Soccer Playoff semifinals and by no means received a nationwide title. Venables has used spring apply to put the inspiration for a program he believes can break by way of.

“We’re making an attempt to take this program from good to nice,” he mentioned. “That’s a giant step. It takes numerous intention and numerous 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 you need to develop an intimate relationship with failure to be your finest,” he mentioned. “You may’t simply like it when it’s good and it’s straightforward and it’s snug. That’s not the place the true development occurs. You’ve acquired to like all of it.”

Then, there’s the instance he provided whereas explaining how one in all his extra animated gamers might tweak his management abilities: “I mentioned, ‘Man, as a substitute of calling him out, name him up,’” Venables mentioned. “Name a person up. Strive that and see when you get higher outcomes.’”

Venables has a lot to point out for his method — 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 beneath Bob Stoops as co-defensive coordinator from 1999 to 2003 and was defensive coordinator from 2004 to 2011.

He’s nonetheless acquired that fireside. He walks round apply with a microphone and typically participates in exercises. He’s everywhere in the particulars — on offense, too.

“It’s simply distinctive,” quarterback Dillon Gabriel mentioned. “He calls for rather a lot, however man, he loves us even tougher. So each time you will have that, you may demand rather a lot from all the fellows.”

Todd Bates, an Oklahoma defensive assistant who adopted Venables from Clemson, mentioned 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 mentioned. “I noticed that for 5 years at Clemson. Being able to be on his facet of the ball and undergo apply with him and see how intense that’s — it’s like life or dying on each play to him.”

Venables mentioned Oklahoma is heading in the right direction after a robust spring apply.

“It’s just a bit bit extra,” he mentioned. “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 wherever. It wants only one extra diploma, slightly extra care. Work slightly extra, love slightly extra, react slightly extra — just a bit bit extra. That makes a distinction. If everyone has that mindset, we’ll all get the place we need to go.”

He believes all of it begins with the instance he units. That filters into every little thing, together with the forms 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 mentioned. “I’m searching for doers. In order that’s what that’s. I need to promote that to recruits and their households and our personal gamers and their households. They discover that. They’re human. They concentrate. And keenness 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 onerous, soiled work at nighttime,” Venables mentioned. “When the stands are empty, that’s once we can separate from our opponent. There must 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 could possibly be louder and supply a greater homefield benefit.

“There’s a motive we’ve received a lot right here at residence — the most effective residence data in school soccer over the past 20 years,” he mentioned. “The gang has been a giant a part of that. However we’re making an attempt to take it to a different degree.”