When Brent Venables took charge of the Oklahoma Sooners, hopes were high. Venables came after winning 2 national titles with Clemson as their defensive coordinator. He was also stepping into the shoes of Lincoln Riley, who left for USC. But it didn’t take long for those hopes to come crashing down. In 2024, the Sooners closed the season with a disappointing 6-7 score. Naturally, Venables is going all in at practice until the season opens in the fall. Quarterback John Mateer explains the intensity of it and other strategies being worked out.
Oklahoma’s approach to turning things around is commendable. They just went all in to get Washington State’s Ben Arbuckle as their new offensive coordinator. And it’s paid off because the Sooners have one of the best offenses in the country. A part of this offense is John Mateer, who also came in from Washington in December. At Washington State, Mateer had 3,139 passing yards on a 64.6% completion rate. Add to that 29 touchdowns. With Mateer under the center, the Cougars ranked 17th in the whole country in passing yards per game (442.8 yards).
What about the Sooners in 2024? Well, they were 113th. Now that Jackson Arnold has moved on, Venables would hope to turn the tables with a quality QB1. However, Mateer will face the grueling road ahead that Brent Venables has set for the players in spring practice to prepare for a series of strong opponents this year.
After day one of spring practice, Mateer talked to OU Insider about the exhaustive nature of the spring camp. “A lot of the reps, you know? There are a lot of routes in this offense, and there are a lot of routes where the receivers can do different things based on a defense,” the newly recruited QB said. “In a lot of offenses, it’s that way, but this one too. So, getting those live reps is important. That’s why spring ball is so important.” Oklahoma is one of the many programs that have canceled their spring game. This means that their period of practice will be extended by quite a number.
“45 practices from start of Spring Ball to end Fall Camp,” Mateer explained. “Within those 45, you help; it helps. That’s why you have non-conference games at the beginning.” He also acknowledges that it does not look easy, but things will look up if everything goes as planned. “It’s not going to be perfect right now. In the summer, we’ll get the live looks, doing seven-on-seven stuff, and it’s going to be good. But those choice routes, option routes, that’s what it takes.” Mateer added further.
Brent Venables has no time to waste, and neither does the team. He might have canceled the Sooners’ spring game, but it was at the expense of getting his team ready for fall. But an in-state rival offered a challenge that should ruffle up Venables’ feathers.
Brent Venables has a surprise offer from Oklahoma State
Here’s Venables, who has taken a critical step away from the norm for the program’s benefit. Then there’s Oklahoma State HC Mike Gundy, who’s in the mood to rev up the mood with a face-off against Venables’ Sooners for a spring game. Correction: two spring games. What’s amusing is that Gundy has given this idea some serious thought.
Here is his detailed plan. “Honestly, for us, we should do a home and home with OU in the spring… They should come here on the 19th. I think their’s is earlier in the year, we should go down there and play a home-and-home against each other in the spring. Charge $25 a head; they can use it for NIL, we can use it for NIL.” Gundy seems to have everything sorted; he just needs the okay from Venables to get things rolling.
But sadly, the Cowboys HC will have to wait to live his dream. Spring practice is full of activities for Oklahoma, which will ultimately take priority. And Venables is not cutting his players any slack with the practice schedule, given the number of sessions. They haven’t got much relief in their regular schedule anyways, and the team is giving their best beforehand to deliver their potential in those games.
The post John Mateer Forced into Tough Oklahoma Admission as Brent Venables Caught Off Guard by In-State Rival’s Announcement appeared first on EssentiallySports.
