Oklahoma Columnist, by Clay Horning

Oklahoma Columnist, by Clay Horning

Share this post

Oklahoma Columnist, by Clay Horning
Oklahoma Columnist, by Clay Horning
Among Bedlam coaches, only one living in the real world and he's in Norman
Copy link
Facebook
Email
Notes
More

Among Bedlam coaches, only one living in the real world and he's in Norman

Clay Horning's avatar
Clay Horning
Sep 20, 2023
∙ Paid
1

Share this post

Oklahoma Columnist, by Clay Horning
Oklahoma Columnist, by Clay Horning
Among Bedlam coaches, only one living in the real world and he's in Norman
Copy link
Facebook
Email
Notes
More
1
Share
Oklahoma coach Brent Venables watches his team play against Tulsa during the first half on Saturday, Sept. 16, 2023, in Tulsa. (AP Photo/Alonzo Adams)

Brent Venables answered a question at his weekly Tuesday press conference that, had he taken it a slightly different direction, might have told us more than he wound up telling us.

Too bad.

He was told that his players, as interview subjects, had frequently brought up “a different feel, a different closeness … within the program,” after which he was asked what level does he feel the program has reached in that ongoing cultural process three games into his second season.

Inferred, of course, is the possibility of a comparison, last season to this one, we all wish he’d make.

He didn’t.

“That process never stops,” Venables said. “You’re always building, you’re always nurturing, you’re always protecting, you’re always rehearsing your values, beliefs.”

By the time he was done with it, he’d spoken significantly more about process than progress.

Still, it's a small critique.

Because you know what he didn’t do? 

He didn’t try telling anybody things were not what they so clearly are.

That was left to his Bedlam rival, Mike Gundy, who took the media, his own fans and a college football nation for a ride on Monday when intimating the Cowboys faced no major problems two days after falling 33-7 at home to South Alabama, member of the Sun Belt Conference, whose roster of schools makes nobody think of football, but mid-week baseball opponents instead: Texas State, Louisiana-Monroe, Coastal Carolina, Arkansas State, Southern Miss, etc.

“I don’t think we have any majors,” Gundy said.


If you’re enjoying this, or appreciate this kind of writing, please consider donating $6/month or $60/year to Oklahoma Columnist. It will mean getting all of my writing, including columns placed behind paywalls, like this one, and it will help insure Oklahoma Columnist’s future, which I perpetually hope to be a long one. Thanks for reading.

Upgrade to paid


Keep reading with a 7-day free trial

Subscribe to Oklahoma Columnist, by Clay Horning to keep reading this post and get 7 days of free access to the full post archives.

Already a paid subscriber? Sign in
© 2025 Clay Horning
Privacy ∙ Terms ∙ Collection notice
Start writingGet the app
Substack is the home for great culture

Share

Copy link
Facebook
Email
Notes
More