Every coach has to “change the culture” when they take over a job these days.
Obviously, Lincoln Riley had to make that Priority No. 1 after he replaced Clay Helton.
But Oklahoma coach Brent Venables told boosters Tuesday in Amarillo, Texas, he also had to make changes.
“I saw too much casualness, if you will,” Venables said when he showed up for Oklahoma bowl practices in December. “Too much on nonchalantness when I came in December to watch the team prepare for the bowl game.”
Venables also relayed his message to the team:
“We lost two heartbreakers, one-score games, could have went either way. (The previous) Coach decides he doesn’t want to be here? OK. Good. Now what do you want to do? We don’t need a program in disarray.
“We’re starting over. We’re stripping this bad boy down to the studs.”
InsideUSC with Scott Wolf 
ugh,we gotta hire him as r couch to,we gotta git evry couch so no one els got any,smdh
LikeLiked by 4 people
If you played chess, Ed, you would be 2 or 3 moves ahead of any opponent
LikeLiked by 2 people
Didn’t Ed beat that IBM computer at chess a few years ago? Before it beat Kasparov? Those computers aren’t so good at using loop holes.
LikeLiked by 4 people
“Yeah, those 2 losses could have WENT either way”– This coach belongs in Oklahoma
LikeLiked by 2 people
“have went” instead of “have gone” is endemic in Midwest America.
Drives me crazy. They really think such is proper grammar.
I’ll stick with Big10 (+4) and Pac 12 college sports, LJ.
LikeLiked by 4 people
Likewise, Bourbon!
LikeLiked by 2 people
Not crazy about his use of “nonchalant” [calm & relaxed] either….but the deeper problem — the one that’s hidden right beneath all the slush —is he’s critiquing a coach who succeeded on an unprecedented scale —that makes him look like a Helton huckster …
#AndWeKnowWhatHappensToThoseGuys….
LikeLiked by 3 people
What has Venables won as an HC? Nada.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Casual attitude and culture. Sounds like a Bob Stoops-led team, combined with player letdown after losing their coach.
Remember Stoops and the 55-19 Orange Bowl, and how cocky Oklahoma was? Pete took his foot off the gas in the second half, USC could have won that game by 50.
LikeLiked by 4 people
God, spot on 67, about Stoops! Love that post!!
F’n Sooner fans were fighting to give Medium Game Bob a “handy” after taking over bowl practices and then beating a depleted Oregon team. Now Sooner fans will spin towards Riley…can’t have it both ways.
LikeLiked by 2 people
That’s what Riley’s doing -bringing in fresh studs and getting rid of the dry rot. I hope the building will be able to stand.
LikeLike
And by the way, I want nothing to do with any coach who looks as scary as ‘Vegetables’ does, and who crassly exclaims, “We’re stripping this bad boy down to its studs”
I suddenly like Wiley even more
LikeLiked by 3 people
“stripping this bad boy down to the studs”…not what a top HC would say. Still sounds like an assistant, jawing to his players, trying to be an HC.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Astute comment, 67. This guy doesn’t have it. Watch him implode when things go south.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Agree 67…see Tosh Lupoi.
LikeLiked by 2 people
ICYMI at Okie…
Yeah, all of us had Venables on our list for Defensive Coordinator back when Pendergast was non-performing. However, he was more interested in coaching at Clemson where his son(s?)–more or less a walk-on–was playing (or not playing). I like his style, and he is one of the few defensive “geniuses” left in CFB. He understands “southern” football and will do “OK” in OK and the SEC. Venables vs Aranda will be an interesting game this year–I’m predicating a 2-0 score.
Fact is, the rules strongly favor the offensive game and the “O” coaching staff. Even Saban understood this and has leveraged the QB/WR part of Bama football.
We will see what the Big 12-4+2-2+4 (or whatever their simple arithmetic ends up being) becomes. Right now it’s all about the money.
Offense brings NIL money. Viewership brings NIL money. Not a lot of
viewership in the BIG 12-4+2-2+4 catchment area. The next decade of CFB will be interesting–to say the least. I like where Riles is taking us.
LikeLiked by 3 people
Their official name is “The Big 666”, Bourbon….
#[IForgetTheNameOfTheirOfficialMascot]…
LikeLiked by 2 people
Oklahoma is not really starting over. They kept their offensive line and running backs coaches and wanted to keep Reilly and all the assistants who left. They also did everything they could to keep Caleb and Mario Williams. Starting over means firing all the coaches and telling some of the players to hit the transfer portal.
LikeLiked by 2 people
You mean, like they did at SC
LikeLiked by 2 people
..to which I add, “thank God”……
LikeLiked by 1 person
Bourbon you hit it right on the head with the rules changes. Offensive football will dictate more games now. The way Venables talks you would have thought Helton was the coach that left.
LikeLiked by 2 people
That’s how Venables has decided to play it, M M….but it’s a dumb motivational move ….you’re always better off basing your pitch on something REAL…. pretending you’re here to SAVE Oklahoma football from the culture Coach Riley created sets you up for failure …and makes you look braindead….
LikeLiked by 2 people
Spot on regarding how offenses will dictate the game. Look at ‘Bama and Saban. Passing yards last year for ‘Bama were something like 340 per game, rushing yards something like 150.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Until Brent Venable wins some games as a head coach, then he probably shouldn’t criticize another coach with a winning record. So stop talking about it, and be about it.
LikeLiked by 3 people
Venables just glomming on to this narrative that’s out there to fire up their boosters. Nobody was complaining when OU was going to 3 CFP’s.
LikeLiked by 3 people
Venables is starting to look a little like that worst of all things –a full fledged T00L…..
#IWentThere
LikeLiked by 3 people
In the SEC, defense wins games. Oke will be okay there. In the ol’ days, defense use to win Pacific 8, then Pac 8, then Pac 10 games. Defense has not caught up to stopping the RPO. Once they learn how to do that, then the defense will once again win games. I am hoping SC’s defense learns real fast to where they are dominant again. We will see.
LikeLike
OU has always been about offense. I recall Switzer intentionally setting the fumble record in an 80-something win over CO back in the day. He lost a couple NCs due to losses to good passing teams – WV with Hoss, Stanford/Elway, Miami/Vinny x 3 (though #1 resulted in Aikman breaking his arm, and Jammin Jamielle Holieway coming off the bench straight outta Banning HS to lead OU to the NC that year over Joe and the Molester). Perhaps Coach V is looking to just bring the D emphasis to par with how the O has always been prioritized there. Probably not hard to get the team to buy in.
LikeLiked by 3 people
So the newbie coach is gonna “start from the ground up”? Gonna “create a new culture”? Oklahoma knew what it was all about under Stoops and Riley….
#Let’sSeeHowMuch”BuyIn”TheyHaveWhenTheyLoseSomeGames…
#..CuzTheyDon’tHaveAClearIdentity…
#..AndDon’tKnowWhoTheyAre
LikeLiked by 1 person
Riley may be running a nonchalant program but he looks like an absolute disciplinarian Bear Bryant figure compared to Clay “Liberal Scumbag” Helton
The pushover allowed thugs criminals rapists and goons to run wild all over our program. I wouldn’t be surprised if he let them rape his wife while he stood there with the same dumb smile watching it all unfold. Helton let the inmates run the asylum. Now Riley needs to clean up the mess create some discipline stop letting our players do whatever they want and cut out the crap deals. Players are STUDENT athletes property of the university giving them a free education to play a game. Now go run a program of discipline and honor
It starts by cleaning up the filth off our streets. Purge the program of the lazy entitled thugs the Polynesian scumbags and no good rotten criminals. Build around solid disciplined pure bred strength with morals and integrity! Bring USC back to glory the right way!
LikeLike
South OC turns himself on again….
LikeLike
hello fans of all, miami defense does in boston bumbs ! belle star was hit in the back twice by a guy named robinson with shot gun case still unsolved!? was this robinson related to john robinson !? REGARDS , E
LikeLike
hi football fans, well the saban upset that dumbo fisher is using methods new ones to minipulate the system for players ! two skunks stinking out the football south ! its good to see this common denominator here south and accusing each other this is hilarious !!!!regards , E
LikeLike