Brent Venables sends message to Oklahoma fans ahead of spring game

Brent Venables has been fired up ever since the moment he arrived back in Norman to take over as the head football coach at Oklahoma. In his public appearances and press conferences, Venables has been full of energy and excitement – and that’s a positive trait to present as he enters his first season as the Sooners’ primary leader.

While Oklahoma went through winter conditioning under Venables’ leadership and has spent the past month-and-a-half going through its spring practice period, the Sooners have been able to adjust to their new head coach – and Venables has had the time to settle into his new role. After weeks of practices, Oklahoma will take to the field on Saturday afternoon for their annual spring game, which will allow Sooners’ fans to see their team in action for the first time under Venables.

Ahead of the spring game, Venables met with the media on Tuesday and sent a message to Oklahoma fans – saying that it’ll be important to have an electric atmosphere on Saturday.

“I think the players feed off of that,” Venables said. “Again, if we expect to grow this program, that’s part of it – the fan experience is. I’m relationship driven, this program is relationship driven. … This is not a transactional program; This is about relationships – so touchy, feely. Having the fans that have your back, that have some loyalty, that have an appreciation. That’s my hope, that our fans – I get this word, ‘expectation,’ that’s fine. … But I’m really looking for appreciation – but you’ve got to earn that. We’ve got to earn that.

“There’s a responsibility on our side of it, man – we’re committed, in everything that we do. We represent the university the right way, we chase and cover the ball the right way, we play passionate, we play relentless, we play physical, we play violent, we play for each other and represent the right way – with class, with toughness, with respect. That’s what I want people to appreciate and be thankful for.”

Venables breaks down format of Oklahoma spring game

While all spring games are operated differently, Oklahoma has decided what kind of format it will follow on Saturday, according to Brent Venables, who shared the layout with reporters on Tuesday.

“We’re going to split the squad up,” Venables said. “I’m going to have a Red and White team. Dillon [Gabriel] will play a little bit of quarterback for both sides, but otherwise we’re going to split it evenly – coaches as well. We’ll name the head coaches here another day, as well. We’ll let the players know by Thursday who’s on what team, and then we’ll have it all juiced up on different sidelines.”

Oklahoma’s Red vs. White spring game is scheduled to begin at 4 p.m. ET Saturday.