Brent Venables discusses the origins of his passion on the sidelines

Brent Venables isn’t afraid to let his passion for the game of football show. The first-year Oklahoma football coach has worn his heart on his sleeve wherever he’s gone, and Norman will be no different.

As the Sooners prepare to kick off the Venables era on Saturday, the coach went all the way back to his playing days at Kansas State to discuss the root of his intense demeanor.

“I was that way as a player,” Venables said Tuesday. “You’ve got to find a way to create value for yourself and I wasn’t the most talented so I just did it with effort and attitude and always tried to go above and beyond when it comes to emotion, passion and intensity.

“Jim Leavitt, my linebackers coach at Kansas State, was a very passionate football coach. He demanded that from us as players. He really nurtured that and promoted that. That’s always who I’ve been. When you love what you do, I think that shows. So for me, that was the way I was as a player.”

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Brent Venables took that passion with him when he became a coach in 1993. It has since been evident on the sidelines wherever he has been, from Oklahoma to Clemson. So much so that the Tigers even employed the use of a “get-back” coach to help usher him back onto the sidelines instead of drifting toward the numbers.

Venables said this past week that OU won’t have a get-back coach, but that doesn’t mean he is planning on toning down his presence on the sidelines.

“When it comes to the coaching aspect, I never have wanted to let my players down,” he said. “Ever. So some of that focused intensity is for them and the colleagues I work with as well. I’m trying to deliver on my responsibilities. From an expression standpoint, I’m just very outwardly in my passions. I don’t apologize for it. It’s not for everyone, but that’s who I am. That’s who I’ve been since I’ve been here with my guys. Honest, open, transparent, passionate and I make no apologies for that.”

As Oklahoma gets ready to kick off the season at 2:30 p.m. CT on Saturday against UTEP, Venables is hopeful that passion will wear off on his players.