Oklahoma coach Brent Venables has talked about the importance of his players’ buy-in since the day he arrived.
But after two straight losses and some comments made by defensive leader Danny Stutsman this week on a podcast, it’s fair to ask: are the Sooners buying in to what Venables is selling?
Stutsman, OU’s All-America linebacker candidate and an emotional compass for many of his teammates, appeared on “The Podcast on the Prairie” this week and questioned if it’s happening.
“We really need a deeper buy-in from the guys,” Stutsman said on the podcast, which is co-hosted by former Sooner H-back Jeremiah Hall. “Like, look, if you don’t want to be here, bro, don’t be here. You know, we will find other people that want to play for the University of Oklahoma.”
In a conversation with Hall, Stutsman and fellow linebacker Jaren Kanak said the process doesn’t change much whether the team is coming off a win or a loss.
“You say you’ve got to keep the process the same,” Stutsman said, “but at the same time, you’ve been a part of some losses that happened, and now some dudes kind of think the season’s over and already have that mentality — which, it’s kind of human nature to happen.
“Obviously somewhere in that formula, someone didn’t do what they were required to. Someone didn’t do what they did at the beginning of fall camp, or those Week 1s and Week 2s, where how hard you were really going.
“So yes, we’re 0-0 every single week. The process doesn’t change,” Stutsman said. “But at the same time, it changed the past two weeks because we fell short and we weren’t good enough.”
After raising the question of his teammates’ personal investment, Stutsman said there’s no time like the present — starting with Saturday’s 6 p.m. home game against West Virginia.
“You really gotta buy in now,” he said. “It’s really moments where you really gotta buy in and see how bad you want this. Because we still want to win.”
The No. 17-ranked Sooners are 7-2 after starting the season 7-0 and reaching as high as No. 5 in the polls.
Road losses of 5 points at Kansas (No. 16 this week) and 3 points at Oklahoma State (No. 15) have derailed the championship hopes for Venables’ second season. But have they also stirred discontent?
Earlier on the podcast, Stutsman seemed pleased with how things have progressed for the defense in Year 2 under Venables.
“We’ve obviously made huge strides from where we were a year ago (to) today,” Stutsman said. “And every single day we’re continuing to work on that. You know, guys are committed every single day with excellence. We’re just making strides one day at a time.”
The Sooners are still alive for the Big 12 Championship Game and have discussed achieving a 10-win season and returning to a New Year’s Six bowl game.
“Coach V mentioned, we’re not defined by any win or loss. We’re gonna do what we always do,” Kanak said on the podcast. “You know, win, lose or draw, we’re gonna fall back to our process and the grind and the preparation it takes. The wins will take care of themselves.”
Stutsman said he’d like a rematch against OSU on Dec. 2 in Arlington.
“I hope we see that team again, honestly,” he said. “It’s still in the air. I’m excited to play that one again.”
Stutsman sustained an injury in the Kansas game and was unable to return to action last week in Stillwater. Hall said the team needs him.
“I’m working on that,” Stutsman said. “I wanted to play Oklahoma State. I did everything, man. I tried everything you could do. I got treatment every single day. On the day of the game, I took every pill, every shot, every numbing thing, and it didn’t work, man.”
Stutsman said “I was hardly even practicing” ahead of the OSU game, but he tried to test it on game day before realizing he couldn’t go.
“You put, like, 230 pounds of resistance on it and it’s like, ‘Man, this ain’t gonna hold up,’ ” he said. “So, kind of had to make that decision. It really stunk. But you don’t want to just force yourself out there, hurt it even worse and be out another two weeks.”
Venables said Monday that Stutsman returned to practice this week.
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