We’re not going to grave-dance on Brent Venables or Oklahoma football. A 49-0 loss to Texas is really bad, but that doesn’t mean much when assessing the long-term future of OU football. The 2022 season? Yeah, that’s toast. OU will not make a bowl game this year if starting quarterback Dillon Gabriel doesn’t get healthy soon. Even if Gabriel does get healthy, OU will lose at least five games. Its bowl bid will be a fourth-tier bowl against a 7-5 or 6-6 team. This year is a disaster for Oklahoma, but the big picture is unclear. It’s just way too Soon(er) to make any long-term verdicts.
Nevertheless, a 49-0 loss to Texas will naturally raise questions about Brent Venables … and Lincoln Riley. Oklahoma fans are certainly wondering about the condition in which Riley left the Sooner program. USC fans can certainly say that Lincoln Riley is a really good coach, and that OU fans’ “we’re glad you’re gone!” attitude in the offseason was misguided and misplaced.
Can we have a real conversation about Venables and Riley? Sit down. Let’s talk. Let’s compose ourselves and be honest about this: