ORLANDO — A big faction of Sooner Nation has sounded the alarm about Oklahoma ending 6-7 this season.
A dropping document? At OU? Unthinkable.
Yet, that’s the actuality.
Now, following Thursday’s 35-32 loss to No. 13 Florida State in the Cheez-It Bowl at Camping World Stadium, Oklahoma should flip its consideration to the future.
And by all accounts, the future appears to be like pretty vibrant.
“I think the foundation’s been laid,” mentioned linebacker Danny Stutsman. “We know what it takes. Next year we’re coming in, as soon as we get back on campus, the work starts there. We’re not gonna let something like this happen again.”
It was definitely in the Sooners’ management this yr. Five of their seven losses have been by a landing or much less. Four of the 5 have been by a subject aim. One extra cease, yet another third-down conversion, one much less penalty and OU’s document could be so significantly better.
“We know the work we put in, we know the time we put in, we know the coaches that we have,” mentioned security Billy Bowman. “Everybody’s mentality, we know who we are but we keep coming up short. Once we get that figured out, it can only get better. It can’t get worse. It will only get better.”
“I think it was a lesson for the young guys,” mentioned cornerback Woodi Washington. “I mean, as far as the seniors, we’ve been in those games and we came up with the victory in most of them. This year, I mean, we couldn’t get the job done in all of them and — things happen. I think it was just a learning point for everybody. Especially the young guys on how not to lose or how not to win maybe. I think it was a huge lesson for everybody.”
The method everyone seems to be approaching 2023: exhausting occasions from a 6-7 season will produce bountiful fruit in the future.
“We’re scarred up,” Stutsman mentioned. “That’s the best way to put it. But we’re stronger for those moments and those lessons.”
In his first go-round as a head coach, Brent Venables skilled loads of lows. But he thinks these lows created a new basis, a robust one, upon which the program’s tradition might be rebuilt.
Winning in yr one would have been good, however it didn’t occur. But the future is coming, and the 2023 season will get right here whether or not the Sooners mope round or double their efforts.
“This is a performance-based profession, and people on the outside are going to judge us on that,” Venables acknowledged. “Winning is incredibly important, and those are the standards and expectations that are here at Oklahoma.”
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Venables mentioned he noticed loads of traits Thursday evening in opposition to the Seminoles that lead him to imagine the future might be vibrant.
“Guts, courage, fight, physicality, attitude, belief, commitment, trust, love, respect,” Venables mentioned. “I saw brotherhood. I saw guys that had an appreciation for their opportunity. Guys that had a thankfulness for putting on a Sooner uniform.
“Part of the hurt and the disappointment … is this program has represented excellence for such a long time. There are so many people, they want to turn the Sooners on, and the Sooners give them hope. The Sooners give them joy. The Sooners give them pride. When you come up short, man, there is some disappointment.”
There are primarily two sorts of participant at Oklahoma proper now.
One consists primarily of departing seniors and upperclassmen who squirmed by the finish of the Lincoln Riley period after which doubled their fists and set their jaw and fought to maintain issues getting in Venables’ first season.
“All our senior class,” mentioned defensive coordinator Ted Roof. “We’ve leaned on those guys’ leadership through some ups and downs, some tough times. And they’ve never flinched. And I respect that and admire that and appreciate that.”
Then there are younger, inexperienced, feisty newcomers and first-time starters who’re wanting to seize their alternative and make their very own legacy. That group contains a recruiting class that’s ranked No. 5 in the nation, in line with 247 Sports.
As for the future, younger gamers like Jalil Farooq, Gavin Sawchuk, Jovantae Barnes, Savion Byrd, Jacob Sexton and plenty of others took monumental strides this season and in December and have one thing tangible to construct on.
“I think for the guys coming back,” mentioned offensive coordinator Jeff Lebby, “we’ve got a bunch of pieces of the puzzle. A bunch of guys that are in that locker room and coming back will play at a high level next year. For them, it’s just understanding it’s one day at a time, being better every single day — and, at the end of the day, how fragile of a game it is. From being on the right side and the wrong side and being able to have a happy locker room or not, I think that’s what we’ve come to find out more than anything.”
“Guys grew up,” mentioned tight finish Brayden Willis, “and we saw that in this game. The foundation has been set and I’m excited what Coach Venables is building here. … But I’m so proud of the guys. I know they’re going to continue to do big things, guys are going to continue to grow up, and it’s just going to go up from here.”
“The program is moving in a great direction,” Washington mentioned. “So for us to come out with this, even though we lost the game, it’s just a learning point for everybody. I can’t wait till next year and see what we have in store.”
“Every week, after all those tough losses, we go into the film room and we watch the film and we’re just a play here or a play there,” mentioned senior offensive lineman Robert Congel. “You know, a block here. They’re close. The future’s definitely bright for this program.”
“We have new coaches and a whole new thing trying to get built here,” mentioned Bowman. “It’s going to rain before it shines. This year it rained. It’s not what we wanted and not what we expected. But it’s only going up from here.”
“It stinks that’s the way it came out,” Stutsman mentioned. “But the foundation’s been laid. We know what we’re building. We have faith, and I would hope the fans do as well.”
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