Big 12 Media Days: Why Oklahoma Coach Brent Venables Remains Relentlessly Positive

ARLINGTON, TX – Brent Venables knows last year’s Oklahoma team left a lot to be desired. But his enthusiasm for the 2023 football season is not at all

ARLINGTON, TX – Brent Venables knows last year’s Oklahoma team left a lot to be desired. But his enthusiasm for the 2023 football season is not at all diminished.

“Last year doesn't mean anything to what happens this year,” the Sooners’ coach said Thursday as OU wrapped up the dais at Big 12 Media Days.

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Spoken by a man whose rookie season as a head coach finished with just six wins and seven losses. Who cares about last year, right?

The truth is, Venables’ demeanor at AT&T Stadium would look the same whether the Sooners went 6-7 or 15-0.

“We fell well below our expectations and standards,” he said. “ … Incredibly excited about the season and about our team.”

Venables tallied it up and said 97 of the 123 Sooners on the roster are first- or second-year guys.

“Tremendous turnover,” he acknowledged, “but couldn’t be happier about the new guys.”

Venables, relentlessly positive, used a good chunk of his opening statement expressing his long appreciation for the Big 12 Conference. Rather than take the low road or line up cheap shots as the Sooners step out next year into the SEC, Venables explained how much he loves the Big 12 – and why.

“What an amazing time it’s been in this conference,” he said. “Most of you know my background, played at Kansas State in the former Big Eight and had the good fortune to coach and the very first Big 12 game in conference history, Kansas State versus Texas Tech. Zebby Lethbridge and Byron Hanspard and the great Spike Dykes. And what an amazing time it's been in this conference. All of my opportunities in my life that I have here as a coach all come from this conference – you know, the Big Eight, the Big 12. Coaches, the great mentors that I've had and all the amazing players that have helped me had a career success, so incredibly thankful for this conference and what it's meant. And as we all know, this is a conference that takes a backseat to nobody.

“You know, there's no doubt that the best is still yet to come for this conference.”