Venables rules out scoring against Texas: “We have no plans to even try”
“Could care less if we score.” Sooners coach says the defense only needs two points to be successful: “A safety and a shutout. That’s a complete football game.”
NORMAN, OK — Oklahoma head coach Brent Venables stunned reporters Wednesday when he revealed his offensive game plan for the Red River Rivalry: absolutely nothing.
“We have no plans to even try,” Venables said. “Scoring points is something other programs concern themselves with. That's never really been our focus.”
Venables clarified that Oklahoma does intend to win. The defense only needs to score two points to be successful.
“A safety and a shutout,” he explained. “Two-nothing. That’s a complete football game. Anything after two is just showing off.”
When asked whether Oklahoma intended to cross midfield, Venables appeared confused.
“Why would we do that? Our defense is over here.”
Offensive coordinator reportedly relieved
Sources inside the program say Oklahoma's offensive staff has spent the entire week preparing an elaborate 47-page game plan centered around punting.
“Three-and-out is the goal,” one assistant explained. “Anything more than that and we're just taking unnecessary risks.”
Quarterback John Mateer reportedly asked if he would be allowed to throw a forward pass.
“Not if I have anything to say about it,” Venables responded.
Sarkisian deeply concerned
Texas head coach Steve Sarkisian called the announcement “extremely troubling.”
“How do you prepare for a team that doesn't even want to win?” Sarkisian asked. “We spent six months studying their offense. Now they're saying there isn't one.”
More from the press conference
- On touchdowns: “Overrated. Six points seems excessive.”
- On field goals: “That's three points we could've used on defense.”
- On winning: “The defense gets two. Texas gets zero. I don’t know why we keep making this complicated.”
- On the game plan: “Punt early. Punt often. Make them earn it.”
- On Texas: “They can't stop our offense if we refuse to run one.”
Venables ended the press conference by announcing that Oklahoma would spend Thursday's entire offensive practice working on tackling the punter.
