
OU Football
Oklahoma Coach Brent Venables Loves K-State, but ‘That Was a Long Time Ago’

OU Football
By John E. Hoover
NORMAN — Brent Venables has faced Kansas State nine times as an Oklahoma assistant coach.
His OU teams have an 8-1 record against the Wildcats.
Has there been enough time pass, enough water running under the bridge of life, that Venables’ ties to K-State — his alma mater, the Division I program that gave him a shot, the place where he launched his coaching career — that he no longer feels the deep emotional ties he once did?
Absolutely, Venables said.
“I reflect about my my opportunities and my relationships all the time,” Venables said Tuesday during his weekly press conference. “When I think about Kansas State, you know, I go back to when I played there, and the mentors that I had and the wonderful experiences I had in Manhattan.
“But it’s a long time ago.”
The No. 6-ranked Sooners (3-0) and Wildcats (2-1) tangle at 7 p.m. Saturday at OU’s Memorial Stadium in their Big 12 Conference opener. For the Sooners’ first-year head coach, maybe some memories will come rushing back. But maybe they won’t.
Recalling memories last week of past games against Nebraska, Venables twice became choked up and needed a moment to compose his emotions.
There were no such pauses this week.
For the entire story, please visit https://www.si.com/college/oklahoma/football/oklahoma-coach-brent-venables-loves-k-state-but-that-was-a-long-time-ago.
Ryan Chapman covers Oklahoma Athletics and the Oklahoma City Thunder for 107.7 The Franchise since 2019. In December of 2020, Chapman was named the Deputy Editor of Sports Illustrated Sooners, and he also is a contributor for Sports Illustrated Thunder. Chapman has previously worked for OCCC's Student Newspaper, The Pioneer, where Chapman covered the Oklahoma City Energy, the Oklahoma City Dodgers, Oklahoma Athletics and the Oklahoma City Thunder. During his time with The Pioneer, Chapman served as the Sports Editor as well as the Editor-in-Chief. Follow Ryan on Twitter @_RyanChapman.
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