Venables, Gundy at odds around potential of Bedlam

ARLINGTON, Texas — Oklahoma coach Brent Venables provided a strong assertion on Thursday in aid of continuing the Bedlam rivalry sequence towards Oklahoma Condition all through his Huge 12 Media Days visual appearance. With the Sooners set to sign up for the SEC by 2025, at the most current, the long term of the yearly showdown has remained up in the air. The initial-year Sooners mentor, however, chooses to keep on being optimistic. 

“It truly is an very critical video game,” Venables mentioned. “It really is got a very long history and tradition for in excess of 100 many years. Regardless of in which the colleges have been, it is vital from a foundational standpoint. You’ve got obtained to have some detest in your coronary heart for your rival.” 

Oklahoma Point out mentor Mike Gundy sang a various tune throughout his time with the media on Wednesday, nevertheless. The Cowboys coach, coming into his 18th time foremost the application, threw cold water on the strategy that Bedlam would remain a priority in Stillwater when Oklahoma moves to the SEC. 

“Bedlam’s heritage,” Gundy mentioned. “Bedlam is not likely to be Bedlam when they leave the conference.” 

The Bedlam rivalry in between Oklahoma and Oklahoma Point out dates back to 1904 in Guthrie, Oklahoma, and has been performed every single year yearly since 1910. The Sooners guide the collection 90-19-7, but Oklahoma State topped the Sooners in Lincoln Riley’s closing Bedlam to earn a vacation to the Significant 12 Championship Video game in 2021. 

Though the schools will be becoming a member of unique conferences, you can find a historical past of historic rivalries obtaining ways to endure in various conferences. Florida and Florida Condition enjoy every yr, together with Kentucky and Louisville. Iowa and Iowa State’s Cy-Hawk Rivalry remains just one of the longest-standing, cross-conference rivalry games on the board. 

“For us in our state, we’re really privileged,” Iowa Condition coach Matt Campbell said about the yearly rivalry game with Iowa. “There are no pro athletics groups. To have two Ability 5 convention plans compete in opposition to every single other, I feel that signifies a great deal to the complete point out. For us, we are definitely grateful that this has continued and has the opportunity to carry on heading forward.”

Sad to say, faculty football has begun to move absent from that concentrate. Texas and Texas A&M have not played considering the fact that the Aggies joined the SEC in 2012, though the rivalry will renew with the Longhorns heading to the SEC. West Virginia missing common rivalries with Pitt and Virginia Tech after the Big East folded. Oklahoma lost yet another rivalry game with Nebraska when the ‘Huskers joined the Major Ten. 

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Venables continue to continues to be optimistic that he will have lots of additional alternatives to mentor towards the Cowboys for the duration of his time as Sooners head coach. He was section of 13 Bedlam online games as Oklahoma defensive coordinator underneath Bob Stoops. 

“For us, when the time arrives, that is a incredible concentration,” Venables explained. “Calendar year spherical in this state, it truly is essential to so several men and women. It provides a great deal of pleasure and a lot of heartache to so many people. 

Gundy is less optimistic. 

“The long term in Bedlam is a yr or two remaining,” Gundy stated. “That’s the long term of Bedlam, centered on any individual else’s choice.” 

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