Brent Venables shares how Josh Bates can regain trust from Oklahoma staff, players

Oklahoma escaped the Houston game with a 16-12 win, but it wasn’t without some nervous moments in the final minute after a costly gaffe by offensive lineman Josh Bates.

Bates took his helmet off while going to bat for his quarterback following a clock-killing move by Jackson Arnold, immediately drawing a 15-yard penalty and stopping the clock. It gave the Cougars one more legitimate shot on offense. One it shouldn’t have had.

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The redshirt freshman has since apologized to his teammates, but he might still have some work to do to get right with his coaching staff.

“I think what’s most important for me personally is earning the trust of the coaches back,” coach Brent Venables said. “And I trust Josh, don’t get me wrong. But that was a tough moment to watch under the circumstances. Any time. That doesn’t represent me, and it certainly doesn’t represent this program.”

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The mistake could have proven much more costly. Luckily for Oklahoma, Houston wasn’t able to make anything of the final possession.

In the end, it can be a learning experience for a young player who got a little too excited in a big spot. After all, Josh Bates made just one appearance in 2023. Playing time is still very new to him.

And there are a lot of positives to his play, despite Saturday’s big blunder.

“I know his teammates respect him, because Josh comes to work,” Venables said. “He likes to work, he loves practice. He’ll take every rep in practice if you allow him. So I don’t think that Josh will do anything other than work, that’s it. In a locker room, that’s what it’s all about.”

The Oklahoma head coach spoke glowingly about his young lineman, despite the mistake.

“He owned it immediately, felt terrible,” Venables said of Josh Bates. “It still doesn’t take it back, but at the same time, he’s an emotional guy that was going to bat for his quarterback and lost his cool. So certainly not going to make it more than it needs to be. We’re talking about it because you brought it up, but we’re moving forward. His moving forward and earning the respect back by everybody is just go to work.”