Another Sunday has arisen at Oklahoma’s 2024 training camp, but this one is unique.
This week, the Sooners will begin game preparation for Temple.
Next week, the Owls will play a unique Friday night season opener at Owen Field, the first in OU history. That means the Sooners will break camp and start genuine game planning for their first opponent later this week.
“Been a really good, tough, challenging, demanding last several days as we’ve gotten started,” head coach Brent Venables said last week. “All part of preparing us both mentally and physically for the grind and challenge of the season.”
Players reported on July 30, practice began July 31, they met with fans on August 3, and a lot has happened since then, including a season-ending injury to wideout Jayden Gibson, the unveiling of some new throwback jerseys, eight players being added to preseason watch lists, three major scrimmages, and, frankly, not much breaking news from practice itself — which is a good thing.
“Things have been good. “There’s been bad,” Venables admitted. “We played our first preseason game, if you will, late last week. It was everything you expected it to be. Huge plays on both sides of the ball. Both good and awful. If something is good on one side, it usually isn’t on the other. That’s the next step in our preseason preparations.”
The gameday installation of Temple’s game plan will begin by the middle of this week, with an early look at their Week 2 opponent, Big 12 newcomer Houston. Class begins on Monday, and then it’s basically game week.
“By Wednesday, we’ll have a working scouting team,” Venables added. “So it’ll happen quickly.
“You’re starting to split the squad and focus on opponents.” It will pass, and it will only be a vapor. So, solidifying that, you have a good idea of who the group of guys will be. Then you narrow it down to who gets out there first, and that will be a major deal.”
But first, a few more days of preseason training.
“Got great film from all of our practices, and our job as a staff and our job as players is to watch the film and see how we can get better,” Venables told ESPN. “I’ve been working on a variety of physical and mental challenges.
“As we’ve previously stated, the beauty and enchantment of fall camp is about pushing your players to their limits. Their task is to willingly take themselves there. If you have a mature, tough-minded team, they will do this. They understand that all of this is crucial when you develop your identity as a football club, determine whether you can build trust — which is a player’s obligation — and discover what you’re truly excellent at. That’s all part of the procedure right now.”
The coaching staff will continue to emphasize basics and minutiae throughout the first few days of this week, the minute, steady improvements that a player can make to create a foundation, win a starting job, or find a spot on special teams.
“A lot of situational work, as well,” Venables remarked. “All of the things that every American football club needs to improve and excel at in order to compete at the highest levels. I like what I see and where we’re at right now.”
