Tramel's ScissorTales: Brent Venables once cheered against OU — thanks to Kyler Murray
Brent Venables gave Kyler Murray a big hug on stage two weeks ago when OU’s latest Heisman Trophy statue was unveiled. Venables’ appearance was ceremonial. He, of course, was not Murray’s coach.
Venables was on Bob Stoops’ staff from 1999-2011, then returned as head coach in December 2021. Murray was on campus from 2016-18 as a quarterback of some note.
But before these Heisman celebrations — Baker Mayfield last spring, now Murray — Venables and Murray were together one time. On the 2018 College Football Playoff bracket. Clemson, with Venables coordinating the defense, vs. Notre Dame, and OU, with Murray quarterbacking, vs. Alabama.
Clemson beat the Fighting Irish 30-3, and Bama beat OU 45-34.
No disrespect, Sooner fans, but Venables was pulling for Alabama.
“I’m not going to lie,” Venables said. “We’re watching the Oklahoma-Alabama matchup. I was like, of all the teams to hope for, I was hoping to play Alabama and not Kyler Murray as a defensive coach.
“I literally was like, 'I'm pulling for Alabama, I'm pulling for Alabama.' Pick your poison, but honestly, I was like, 'I do not want to face that guy.'”
It’s not like Bama was trotting out Brodie Croyle at quarterback. The 2018 Crimson Tide was quarterbacked by Tua Tagovailoa, with Jalen Hurts backing up. Sort of like Mayfield and Murray running 1-2 at OU in 2017.
But Murray indeed was an incredible quarterback. And Venables’ desire to reach out to former Sooners of all generations is quite apparent.
Murray included.
“Amazing player,” Venables said after the April 22 OU spring game. “It’s a real joy to have him here this week and celebrate him.
"I mean obviously, he's one of the best to ever do it in high school and college. Heisman guy and just an amazing football player. Humble young guy.”
At a Friday night gala for Murray in Oklahoma City, Bob Stoops talked of Murray’s leadership abilities despite a demure personality. Venables concurred.
“We had several hundred former players here, and he's a magnet for people,” Venables said. “People love to watch him. And his teammates love to play with him. He's quiet and to himself, but in the confines of the right places, man, he's a very loud guy. But it meant a lot.
“Was cool, again, to be a fly on the wall to watch the ceremonies and watch him and his family.”
By the way, Venables’ granted wish paid off. In January 2019, Clemson beat Alabama 44-16 in the national championship game.
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Thunder report card: Josh Giddey
Josh Giddey had a robust second season with the Thunder, putting up scintillating numbers for a 20-year-old but leaving enough room for improvement to be quite unaware exactly where Giddey might land on the NBA’s food chain.
Our series on Thunder individual report cards continues, today with Giddey, the affable Australian (is that redundant?):
Production: A. Is there something better than an A? Giddey as an NBA sophomore averaged 16.6 points, 7.9 rebounds and 6.2 assists per game. As a 20-year-old. In NBA history, the 20-year-olds who averaged at least 16 points, seven rebounds and six assists per game are LeBron James, Magic Johnson, Luka Doncic and, wait for it, Giddey. Yes, the game is higher-scoring than 10-15-20 years ago. But still. Giddey’s player efficiency rating of 17.2 was the 44th-best among 20-year-olds in NBA history. Ahead of Giddey on that list are players like Jaxson Hayes, Tyreke Evans and Michael Beasley. So Giddey’s career is not automatically Hall of Fame-bound. But man, what a start.
Shooting: B. Giddey’s 3-point percentage went up dramatically, from .263 as a rookie to .325 this season. His 3-point attempts went down dramatically, from 4.5 per 36 minutes to 3.6. That’s major progress. Giddey made 40 percent of his corner 3-pointers, suggesting he’s slowly adjusting to the longer distances. Even his foul shooting rose, from .709 to .731.
Leading backups: B. Mark Daigneault experimented with rotations much of the season, but Giddey emerged as the primary leader of the B team. He often would exit midway through the first and third quarters, then return to start the next periods as Shai Gilgeous-Alexander took a rest. Giddey had the Thunder’s second-worst net rating — minus-9.5 — but that’s due in part to playing long stretches without SGA. Giddey probably was hurt by the injury to Kenrich Williams, who missed the final two months of the season and severely impacted the bench. But the major part of Giddey’s negative rating was the Thunder’s woeful first-quarter performances — Giddey’s net rating was minus-8.2 in the opening period but just minus-0.1 in the third period, with similar rotations.
Rebounding: A. Giddey ranked 33rd in NBA rebounds per game, 7.9. Among guards or wings, he ranked fourth, behind Jayson Tatum (8.8), Doncic (8.6) and LeBron (8.1). Giddey’s rebound rate of 20.9 was astronomical (Steven Adams’ rebound rate with the Grizzlies is 20.9, and he’s got the NBA intelligentsia going ga-ga over his backboard sweeping). Giddey easily is the Thunder’s top rebounder.
Improvement: A. Giddey’s defense must get better, and it should. He wasn’t overpowered or out of place as much as in his rookie year, but still, it needs work. But Giddey’s turnover rate decreased significantly, as he seemed to take far fewer risks. His shot selection was much better — few long 2-pointers, many more drives to the basket, more shots from the paint. He’s going to be good. The only question is, will Giddey be great?
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The List: Late-career QB switches
Hall of Fame-caliber quarterbacks switching teams late in their careers is nothing new in the National Football League. But Aaron Rodgers’ jump to the New York Jetropolitans could go either way.
Matt Ryan and Russell Wilson are modern quarterbacks who struggled.
But mostly, great QBs have done well immediately after changing franchises after age 35. Here are five examples:
1. Tom Brady: You know all about it. Six Super Bowl wins with the Patriots, then at age 43 led the Buccaneers to a Super Bowl title.
2. Peyton Manning: Left the Colts for the Broncos at age 36 and took Denver to two Super Bowls, winning at age 39.
3. Y.A. Tittle: Traded from the 49ers to the Giants, Tittle led New York to three straight NFL Championship Games, at ages 35-37.
4. Joe Montana: Left the 49ers for the Chiefs at age 37 and led Kansas City to the 1993 conference championship game.
5. Brett Favre: The Aaron Rodgers prequel. Iconic quarterback leaves Packers for Jets at age 39. Favre led New York to an 8-3 start, but a torn bicep wrecked his — and the Jets’ — season. They finished 9-7 and out of the playoffs.
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Mailbag: Thunder broadcasts
The financial uncertainty of Bally Sports has many NBA franchises wondering what their broadcast future holds. The Phoenix Suns recently announced they would sell all their games on a internet-streaming service but also put the games on non-cable television in the Phoenix market. That has some fans wondering about the Thunder.
Rob: “The Phoenix Suns and Mercury (WNBA) are creating their own direct-to-consumer streaming service. Which made me wonder about the Thunder’s future with Bally’s. But it also got me thinking about KSBI, channel 52. A lot of Thunder fans may not know, but originally local games were broadcast on channel 52!”
Tramel: Yes indeed. In the first two Thunder seasons, Fox Sports Oklahoma telecast the vast majority of games, but KSBI broadcast the rest – 17 in the inaugural season of 2008-09.
It seems like the Suns’ plan could work in Oklahoma City, which has a variety of over-the-air, non-network stations that might be interested. KSBI-52. KOCB-34. KAUT-43. However, they need to be high-definition capable, and not all are.
But the days of all the games going to cable could be nearing an end. The Suns’ model could appease the younger crowd (stream all the games for a relatively inexpensive fee) and the older crowd that still likes linear television.
Such a deal would not be lucrative for the Thunder, but most NBA teams don’t make a ton off their local television contracts. Marketing the team is more important.
Berry Tramel: Berry can be reached at 405-760-8080 or at btramel@oklahoman.com. He can be heard Monday through Friday from 4:40-5:20 p.m. on The Sports Animal radio network, including FM-98.1. Support his work and that of other Oklahoman journalists by purchasing a digital subscription today.
This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: OU football: Brent Venables didn't want to face Kyler Murray, Sooners
