It has not been a pretty year for him in his third season as head football coach at the University of Oklahoma, but Brent Venables is feeling fantastic after what happened last week.
His team entered a matchup against the University of Alabama as a 13-point underdog at home. The Sooners needed one victory to become bowl-eligible and spoil the Crimson Tide’s season and it got it. Oklahoma shocked college football with a 24-3 impressive win over the Tide. Venables’ group outplayed and out coached Kalen DeBoer and his staff at Alabama.
Venables took to the podium for his postgame presser and made an extremely bold statement.
He feels that Oklahoma has a foundation, and that is something Alabama does not have now.
“This is my vision: that Oklahoma was absolutely relentless in all 3 phases, and they knocked Alabama out…without a doubt, Oklahoma was the most physical football team tonight.” – Brent Venables after the Sooners’ 24-3 win over Alabama pic.twitter.com/G5UHoHUkjg
— The Next Round (@NextRoundLive) November 24, 2024
“You want to have a foundation of something that defines you,” Venables said. “You want to have an identity. It is about being physical. You want to play with relentless effort and when they turn the tape on, what is the evidence gong to say? Tonight when you turn the tape on, what is the evidence going to say? This is my vision: that Oklahoma was absolutely relentless in all three phases, and they knocked Alabama out… without a doubt, Oklahoma was the most physical football team tonight.”
Venables sounds like former Alabama head coach, Nick Saban.
Former Alabama player questions the lack of using its running backs versus Oklahoma
Saban, for the betterment of 17 years, had the Crimson Tide as the most physical, relentless football program. Alabama starting losing that edge in Saban’s final three seasons, but it certainly has no identity now. Oklahoma wanted it more than the Tide and took it from Alabama. The Sooners were the enforcers on both sides of the ball and took Alabama out of rhythm.
DeBoer and his team now has to regroup for the Iron Bowl.
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Stephen M. Smith is the senior writer for Touchdown Alabama Magazine. You can “like” him on Facebook or “follow” him on Twitter, via @CoachingMSmith.
