Brent Venables calls Red River Showdown win ‘next step’ in building culture

Oklahoma turned the tables in dramatic fashion during this season’s edition of the Red River Rivalry, avenging a 49-0 loss in 2022 by beating Texas 34-30 in Dallas this time around.

After the game, Sooners head coach Brent Venables was asked just how much the win means for the program, especially given the result the year prior.

“We’re better in every area,” he said of the changes from last year to this one. “Last year was an embarrassment, and my hands are all over that. The players that played for us last year, they were hurt from that too. Ultimately, my job as the leader is to get the best out of them. I did a very poor job of that.”

This year’s team, while not flawless, certainly showed a lot of improvement in the rivalry matchup this time around.

“We’re not where we want to be, but this is the next step. This team is a very determined football team, and there’s a lot of belief for having 63 new players on the squad.”

Venables continued raving about the great character makeup of his team.

“This is a team that’s close. There’s a lot of trust and respect. That’s genuine. I think we have a very selfless football team. They have a blue-collar mindset, and that’s showing up every day with the same attitude and to be an example of consistency. That’s what the great programs are, and we’re striving to be that as we build it one day at a time.”

Again, Coach Venables spoke on the need to respond positively this season after taking a beating in this game a year ago.

“Those are things that you get better from. I told the team several times I’ve been on my knees plenty in this profession, and I’ve always been able to respond the right way and try to be a great example for these guys.”

One more time, Brent Venables credited his players, especially the ones who were around for the 49-0 game, for making such big strides against the Longhorns in just one full year.

“These guys are ultimately the ones that do the work and make a decision to leave the locker room and put us in a position today. There’s a maturity about this team after having gone what they have gone through, and we’ve educated the newcomers as well. There was certainly a redemptive piece to it. But it’s not redemptive to me personally, it’s to this team and this program and what this program has stood for for a really, really long time.”