NORMAN — While Oklahoma dominates the Bedlam collection like no different faculty soccer rivalry is dominated, the point out of enjoying Oklahoma State would possibly induce a bit of PTSD for Sooner Nation.
Or even the OU gamers.
It was slightly below one calendar yr in the past now that the Sooners misplaced their season finale in Stillwater, and just a few hours later, head coach Lincoln Riley, defensive coordinator Alex Grinch and some others had been on an airplane en path to Los Angeles.
The sport went sideways that evening at Boone Pickens Stadium. The Sooners’ once-promising season went sideways. Ultimately, your complete Oklahoma program went sideways.
The byproduct is unfolding weekly now, as losses pile up for the Sooners. Now rematching with the Cowboys, OU possesses a 5-5 document — a catastrophe, by all accounts, in Norman.
It all began 51 weeks in the past at OSU, and the OU program has been on a completely totally different monitor ever since.
“I guess. Yeah, definitely,” mentioned vast receiver Marvin Mims. “I didn’t even think about that. It was a quick turn of events.”
OU coughed up a late result in hand the Cowboys simply their third victory within the final 19 years. Riley appeared extra disengaged than disenchanted, and the subsequent day, everybody understood why.
Now, this system is underneath Brent Venables watch. At instances it feels just like the Oklahoma program simply stepped out of a time machine. Many issues have modified, together with the win-loss totals.
“Yeah, it’s crazy,” mentioned defensive finish Ethan Downs. “Just like that. Time’s flying.”
Every week after Riley stop, Venables was employed.
Asked this week to look again on the occasions that led as much as final yr’s turnover, they described the Bedlam sport as finest they may.
“I just remember the energy, you know?” Downs mentioned. “Last year I was so caught up in the awe of every game, you know, looking around at the stadiums and just seeing the colors flash. Like, everything was a blur last year.
“Honestly, when I was in the game, man, it’s just electric to see that OU and OSU clashing heads, talking trash on the field.”
Downs was a freshman in 2021 who grew up in Weatherford, OK, romanticizing in regards to the Bedlam sport. Mims was a sophomore who had already tasted it.
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“They had a really mean front seven,” Mims mentioned. “Great defensive coordinator back then. All out blitz, and it was hard to stop. We’d get it from time to time. Really physical defense. Those guys are huge, even the safeties and corners are just real big, swole guys. And just the electricity of that stadium, especially when they brought the paddles out, start hitting the sideline, how close the sideline was to the wall. I mean, it’s different in Stillwater.
“That’s probably the thing I remember most. Just the atmosphere. A big screen that covers up the whole wall. I’d never seen anything like it, so I love it.”
Venables got here to Norman and introduced in energy coach Jerry Schmidt. He introduced in a mindset that made protection a precedence, not an afterthought. He introduced within the SOUL Mission and a bunch of help employees and a holistic strategy to being a student-athlete. He introduced in toughness and management and accountability — even when some of it nonetheless hasn’t manifested on the sector but.
It’s a futile train to take a position on what-ifs. But what would the OU program appear like proper now if Riley hadn’t bolted?
“We’ve matured so much,” Downs mentioned. “I’ve matured so much as a player, growing into a leader and being called into positions that other people depend on, other people look up to.
“And it’s like, man, just last year, I felt like I was doing more watching than playing. And just now, you know, a year later, it’s like, ‘Whoa, I’m right here in it and I gotta be the man that takes the first step.’ “
The Sooners wilted down the stretch of last year’s 37-33 loss to the Cowboys. OU led 33-24 early in the fourth quarter and outgained O-State 441 to 354. The Sooners had a safety and three takeaways, including one on special teams when Justin Broiles jumped on a fumbled punt in the end zone. Kennedy Brooks recorded his third career 100-yard Bedlam game while the OU defense clamped down on OSU’s Jaylen Warren. Caleb Williams threw for 252 yards and three touchdowns, and after the Sooners surrendered the lead, Williams broke off a long scramble that looked as though he might reach the end zone.
It was OU’s most points ever in a loss in Stillwater.
But Riley lost his final game in crimson and cream and then took off for scarlet and gold.
Looking back, the whole 24 hours was surreal for the Sooners — especially the part where rumors broke out that he was leaving, athletic director Joe Castiglione called a team meeting, Bob Stoops showed up and Riley showed up late, then spoke to the team for about 2 minutes and walked out.
“A late Stilly game, drive back, team meeting — I want to say maybe afternoon — and then that breaking out,” Mims mentioned. “And then we are where we are now. Even thinking back on it, it feels like forever ago, honestly. It feels like BV’s been here for a couple of years and we’ve had this coaching staff and these guys on this team. But it’s been about a year now, and it’s kind of crazy to just think about.
“I don’t even know what to say about it, but things are the way they are now. I’m happy to be here. I’m just blessed that Coach Venables and his staff have impacted me the way they have.”
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