What OU football coach Brent Venables had to say about Bedlam series, Kansas State game

NORMAN — Brent Venables held his weekly press conference Tuesday, looking back at last week's win over Nebraska and looking forward to Saturday's Big 12 opener against Kansas State.

Here are some highlights and takeaways from Venables' press conference:

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➤ Venables on facing his alma mater, Kansas State, for the first time as a head coach: "I reflect about my opportunities and relationships all the time. When I think about Kansas State, I go back to — I played there, the mentors that I had ... but that's a long time ago.

"That's what this week is about — putting everything we've got into the most important game of the year, and this week, that's Kansas State."

Venables said leaving Kansas State for OU after the 1998 season was the hardest decision of his career. Venables joined Bob Stoops' staff with the Sooners.

"I needed a tremendous amount of growth," Venables said.

Venables said he texted with legendary Wildcats head coach Bill Snyder before and after Saturday's game at Nebraska.

"Great win No. 3, now go get No. 4," Snyder texted Venables after the Sooners' 49-14 win.

About an hour later, another text popped in.

"Except not this week," Snyder added.

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➤ Venables said one of the biggest things he learned from Snyder was how to treat people.

"People want to feel like they matter," Venables said.

➤ Venables brought up the way his team has responded coming out of halftime.

Through three games, the Sooners are outscoring opponents 52-0 in the third quarter, the most points they've scored in any quarter so far.

➤ OU's offensive line looked stronger than it had through the first two games.

Venables said the return of tackle Wanya Morris, who missed the first two games for off-the-field issues, was a factor.

"Thought getting Wanya back was good, just to have another good player first of all," Venables said.

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Brent Venables on Bedlam football series

Venables on the report Bedlam wouldn't continue when the Sooners move to the SEC: "I didn't hear about that. I like to keep things simple. ... I love rivalry games for all the right reasons. If that's what they've decided to do, that's what they've decided to do."

➤ Venables said the defense, a group he said was "scarred" when he first arrived, was having fun through three games.

"To see them have confidence but still remain humble (is big)," Venables said, noting that the schedule gets harder during Big 12 play. "The air gets thinner. That's just what it is. But they're excited to run towards the hard."

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➤ Venables said it was unusual to prepare for a quarterback the Sooners faced a year ago at a different school.

OU's defense is doing it for the second consecutive week, first last week when it faced Casey Thompson, who transferred from Texas to Nebraska. Now, they'll face Adrian Martinez, who transferred from Nebraska to Kansas State in the offseason.

Venables said he showed his team a reel of Martinez's play against the Sooners last season in OU's 23-16 win over the Cornhuskers.

Martinez threw for 289 yards and a touchdown with one interception and ran for 34 yards and a score in last year's game.

➤ Venables gave credit for OU's success with tackles for loss on the way the defense is playing rather than the scheme.

"I think our coaches are doing a great job from a fundamental standpoint," Venables said, listing several factors that have gone into that success. "I think it's a combination of a lot of things. You've got players who have an understanding of what you're doing."

The Sooners are No. 2 nationally with 10.7 tackles for loss per game. The only team ahead of OU is James Madison with 11.5 per game in two games.

OU is tied for No. 5 nationally in sacks per game, with 4.33.

➤ Venables on defending Kansas State running back Deuce Vaughn, who had 10 catches for 104 yards and a touchdown and 15 carries for 51 yards against the Sooners last season: "He's a great player. He's a hard guy to account for. He's a hard guy to tackle. You can have him dead to rights and he makes plays.

"I'd love to have a whole locker room full of Deuce Vaughns. .... Very explosive, game-changing type of player."

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This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: OU football: Brent Venables talks about Bedlam, Kansas State game