Oklahoma’s Debut at SEC Media Days

DALLAS — In Oklahoma’s first appearance at SEC Media Days as an official member of the conference, familiar faces with ties to the Sooners shared their thoughts, including former Sooner quarterback and current Tennessee coach Josh Heupel.

OU head coach Brent Venables expressed his long-standing respect for the national champion-winning quarterback, noting his admiration for Heupel’s post-playing career.

“I have this deep appreciation for Josh, certainly first and foremost as a player,” Venables said. “I’ve always held him up here on this pedestal when it comes from a player’s standpoint.”

Both coaches were former assistants and coordinators under Bob Stoops. Venables left to take the defensive coordinator job at Clemson after the 2011 season, and Heupel was let go after 2014. Despite their departures from Norman, they maintained a close relationship.

“No surprise, as a coach’s son, the level of success that he has had as a coach,” Venables said about Heupel. “I’ve stayed in touch with him pretty much every step of the way through this process. We competed on the field in 2014, and he went to Utah State and then to Central Florida and then to Tennessee. So we’ve stayed in touch through those moments of success and some of the challenges a football season will bring you.”

It’s been a decade since Heupel has been in Norman. Despite being let go by his alma mater, he looks forward to returning on Sept. 21.

“I got great respect for Brent playing while he was coaching, but also being beside him in the staff room,” Heupel said. “Obviously Oklahoma, my experience there, I think it’s an exciting time to be in this league and really unique that I’ll have an opportunity to go back to Oklahoma.”

Expectations for Jackson Arnold

Sophomore quarterback Jackson Arnold recorded his first collegiate start in last season’s Alamo Bowl against Arizona, where the Sooners fell to the Wildcats 38-24. Arnold faced some struggles, throwing three interceptions that contributed to Oklahoma’s defeat. Despite this, Venables is optimistic about his quarterback’s second season.

“What I feel best about is his ability to be able to handle the highs and the lows,” Venables said about Arnold. “Nobody is more competent or more ready.”

Arnold says he learned from his struggles in the Alamo Bowl and that he’s not the same player he was.

“After that Arizona game, there was a lot of maturing and a lot of growing up that I had to do,” Arnold said. “Stepping into that QB1 role, I had to be a real leader for us, for our team, and just stepping into that role, I know I need to mature as a person, as a player too.”

Arnold used the spring to improve his skills and learn from his mistakes.

“I feel like the biggest thing for me after spring ball was attacking the mental side of football,” Arnold said. “Whether that’s looking at defenses or how Coach V looks at offenses, but really focusing on the mental part of football and learning different things that will help me ID coverages or help me make better reads for the season.”

Arnold’s teammate and Sooners’ senior linebacker Danny Stutsman reflected on the starting quarterback’s first start and understands what it’s like to step into a leadership role.

“For myself, I look back to my sophomore year, kind of earning that starting spot,” Stutsman said. “It kind of took a while. I thought the guys on the defense were leaders. I realized quickly that someone needs to step into that more vocal role.”

Stutsman said he tries to give the team 110% so younger players look up to him and help prepare them for their chance at playing. He sees that in Arnold as well.

“I think Jackson is starting to understand that and trying to do everything he can to be turned into that leader,” Stutsman said.

Rule Changes in the SEC

On Tuesday, SEC Coordinator of Officials John McDaid revealed that the conference will implement new technology for the upcoming 2024 season, including iPads and radios inside helmets to allow clearer communication between coaches and players.

Venables believes the tablets could be beneficial for college football.

“I think it’s a great resource,” Venables said. “It’ll be useful in some ways, and you just want to make sure that it’s not distracting in other ways.”

Venables says the helmet communication technology is similar to the NFL but worries it could allow one side of the ball to be more efficient.

“Too much communication can be a bad thing, too,” Venables said. “You’ll find that balance as a program and as a player. Some players will receive it better than others. But it can be a real competitive advantage to me offensively to be able to be in the ear of the quarterback 15 seconds prior to snapping the ball.”

Not only will one of college football’s premier conferences see new technology, but they will also allow coaches in an analyst role to be on the field. Venables talked about the value of this change.

“I think it’s fantastic from a development standpoint in helping young coaches develop in the profession,” Venables said. “Getting opportunities, creating value for themselves, having experience through it. I think in some ways it’ll help you be more efficient, and I think you have to be careful that more is not always better.”