OU beats Texas: Venables OKs offensive score to secure win
Sooners coach grants one-time exception to no-scoring policy after determining that beating Texas is worth the paperwork.
DALLAS — Oklahoma beat Texas after Brent Venables reportedly granted the offense a one-time exemption from its no-scoring policy, determining that winning the Red River Rivalry qualified as an extraordinary circumstance.
“I said we had no plans to score,” Venables explained afterward. “Plans change.”
The decision represents a dramatic reversal from a first half in which the Sooners’ offense had appeared fully committed to its head coach’s stated preference for letting the defense handle absolutely everything.
Permission to enter the end zone
According to sources on the sideline, the authorization arrived with several conditions: score only as necessary, do not get carried away, and understand that this does not automatically become a weekly thing.
“I approved a score,” Venables said. “I did not approve a philosophy.”
Offensive staff members reportedly requested the instruction in writing after spending the afternoon operating under the assumption that reaching the end zone would require an incident report.
One assistant immediately laminated the approval. Another asked whether it expired at midnight.
Winning remains an acceptable outcome
Venables rejected suggestions that Oklahoma’s victory had exposed a flaw in the original plan.
“The plan was to beat Texas,” he said. “We simply expanded the list of departments authorized to help.”
The defense, which had spent much of the game attempting to solve the problem independently, welcomed the contribution but asked whether it could finally sit down.
Players described the postgame mood as jubilant, relieved and slightly uncertain about whether the touchdown counted against their film grade.
Dallas responds appropriately
Word of the victory reached Barry Switzer before hotel management could disconnect the televisions.
Witnesses reported the Boz clearing a path toward an open window while Mack Brown asked whether the remote needed to go with the set.
At press time, Venables had approved the celebration but emphasized that any additional offensive scoring would still need to come through him.
Previously: Venables: “Could Care Less If We Score” →
