Why OU football stadium renovations are 'coming at the right time'
NCAAF College Football News, Photos, Stats, Scores, Schedule & Videos...
NORMAN — OU football coach Brent Venables has traveled to some of the best venues in college football throughout his coaching career.
Including when his Sooners escaped Tennessee’s Neyland Stadium at night Nov. 1 and this week when they travel to face No. 4 Alabama at Bryant-Denny Stadium. In his mind, it’s important for OU to be proactive when it comes to stadium upgrades.
The university’s Board of Regents will vote on the approval of the design of the west side renovations at Gaylord Family — Oklahoma Memorial Stadium during its meeting Tuesday. The project, which is expected to begin construction following the 2027 season, will include 47 suites, 64 loge boxes, approximately 4,000 new club seats, six club/lounge spaces, a new expanded press box and sideline-oriented sports lighting system and sound system enhancements.
“It’s incredibly exciting,” Venables said Monday. “It shows a commitment to our fans, certainly our players, our program. The thing that it’s going to potentially provide from a gameday experience — and it’s 100 years old, the stadium is. So it’s coming at the right time. I know there’s things that have to take place tomorrow to ensure we can take the next step in that direction.”
The Regents previously approved the master plan updates that have been developed thus far in 2014. Since, the Sooners have undergone south end zone improvements, north scoreboard improvements and seating bowl improvements.
The estimated project cost of the stadium master plan updates is anticipated to be $450 million. Funding for the project has been identified and is available from athletics funds and private donations. An anonymous donation of $25 million to support OU athletics was listed on the meeting’s agenda.
“Everybody’s gonna be excited when all the details and all the renderings come out, whenever that is,” Venables said. “But it’s also a source of pride for our university community, as well. Looking forward to taking another big step that way. I don’t want to get into all those details, it’s not really my lane. But there’s been incredible support, financially speaking, to make it happen, as well.”
Ben Arbuckle takes full responsibility for QB John Mateer’s late INT
Ben Arbuckle took full responsibility Monday.
With 4:18 remaining and the Sooners up nine on Tennessee, Arbuckle called a run play to drain the clock, but gave quarterback John Mateer the option to throw. Mateer tossed an interception and the Volunteers scored a touchdown.
“At the end of the day, that was my fault,” Arbuckle said. “I called a run play there, they had eight humans in the box, pretty much had nine humans in the box bringing cover zero. I gave the option to throw the ball right there.
“I mean, it’s nobody else’s fault but mine, and I’ve got to be better in that moment, in that situation. And I know that. It’s a good learning moment, but that one was on me.”
The play could’ve been more disastrous than it was if Tennessee would’ve pulled off an onside kick and won the game. Venables discussed the moment with his staff immediately.
“We’ve got a small window to communicate,” Venables said. “We’ve got to be very clear about what we want and making good decisions that way from a communication standpoint. We do a lot of self-scouting. There are some scenarios there in the second half as well.
“Really, from our season, we’ve had several games come down to the last drive or two of the game, so normal protocol and during in-season self-scout, but something like that you can’t be on the wrong side of.”
No update on Kobie McKinzie, R Mason Thomas
Venables didn’t have an update on linebacker Kobie McKinzie (groin) or defensive end R Mason Thomas (unspecified lower body) on Monday.
McKinzie tried to give it a go in warmups ahead of the Tennessee game, but ultimately sat out. Thomas was injured during his 71-yard fumble recovery for a touchdown against the Volunteers.
“I haven’t seen them on the field since last Thursday, so I’ll see them here later on today,” Venables said. “We’ll see where they’re at.”
Colton Sulley covers the Oklahoma Sooners for The Oklahoman. Have a story idea for Colton? He can be reached at csulley@oklahoman.com or on X/Twitter at @colton_sulley. Support Colton’s work and that of other Oklahoman journalists by purchasing a digital subscription today at subscribe.oklahoman.com.
OU at Alabama
KICKOFF: 2:30 p.m. Saturday at Bryant-Denny Stadium in Tuscaloosa, Alabama (ABC)
This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: Brent Venables believes OU football stadium renovations are ‘exciting’
More at NCAAF College Football News, Photos, Stats, Scores, Schedule & Videos