Brent Venables considers how Oklahoma has developed better leadership

The Oklahoma Sooners have quietly started the year 4-0 in their second season under head coach Brent Venables as they head into their second Big 12 matchup of the season against Iowa State. And as Venables is in the midst of year two, he’s noticed something a little bit different about this year’s squad.

Leadership. The Sooners have had more of it and it’s clearly worked in their favor to start the season, and at a recent press conference, Venables spoke on how he believes his program has developed better leadership from within.

“I think it starts with their ability to lead themselves, and that’s just a maturation,” Venables. “Just becoming more mature, perspective maybe changes, sense of urgency maybe changes, maximizing their opportunities. But learning the value of leading themselves first, and then willing to be led, and then three becoming a leader too, all in their own ways.”

The value and importance of having a player-led program is immense and hard to measure, especially when trying to establish a new culture or maintain a standard at a given program. And while Venables can’t necessarily put a price on the growth of the leadership in his locker room, he continued to harp on the fact that it all starts within the players and leaders themselves.

“So it’s hard to quantify it as much, I think you alluded to being a little more vocal in a particular huddle, or in a meeting room, at practice, things of that nature. That comes with the confidence learning again how to lead, but it starts with themselves, believing in themselves, looking at themselves as a leader, somebody that’s invested,” Venables explained.

It’s hard to follow a leader who isn’t taking care of their own business, whether that’s on or off the field. And as the Sooners put in work leading up to the season, it’s clear that they’ve had more players than ever doing so under Venables resulting in a committed group that can lead by example and in other ways.

“I think that’s important when you’ve invested as much as each of those guys have. I think you have some ownership not only in your work but in the program and for the opportunities we have as a football team,” Venables said. “So been proud of them, the way they’ve grown and their commitment, and their care for their teammates, and again their opportunity in this football team.”