NFL News NFL News, Reports and Updates
COLUMBIA, Mo. — The air hung thick inside a cramped storage room off the south end zone of Faurot Field on Saturday night.
After OU’s 30-23 loss to Missouri, putting the Sooners on the brink of their first bowl-less season since 1998, not only was OU coach Brent Venables short on words but reporters quizzing Venables on the loss struggled for a moment to come up with just what to ask.
What more is there to ask?
What can Venables say?
There wasn’t much to say after the most stunning loss of the season and probably the most stunning of Venables’ three seasons at the helm.
But still, Venables tried to explain it and give at least a vague sense of hope heading into a bye week and then a two-game gauntlet where the Sooners will need to pull off at least one stunning upset to extend their bowl streak in improbable fashion.
“Our guys fought with everything they had,” Venables said. “Wasn’t good enough. We have to do a better job to help them. They converted way too many third downs on defense.”
More: OU football needs ‘serious discussions’ after loss to Missouri: Social media reacts
Venables hangs his hat on defense and for much of the game, the Sooners’ defense stood tall.
They made it difficult for Drew Pyne to move the ball through the air.
They bottled up the Tigers’ ground game.
But then Pyne and Missouri’s offense came alive late, with a 75-yard touchdown drive that took less than a minute to tie the game with just more than a minute remaining.
Just a few moments after Pyne hit former Sooner Theo Wease for a 10-yard touchdown, OU’s offense coughed up the ball and gave up a defensive touchdown, sealing a stunning defeat.
“It wasn’t like there was a big bust and somebody was wide open, you know? We just had a couple mistakes in a game in the SEC,” Sooners defensive coordinator Zac Alley said. “The…
Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/ou-football-coach-brent-venables-113043640.html
Author : The Oklahoman
Publish date : 2024-11-11 11:30:43
Copyright for syndicated content belongs to the linked Source.
