No. 13 Oklahoma (10-2, 7-2 Big 12) defeated TCU (5-7, 3-6) 69-45 on Friday in Norman.
Here's what Brent Venables said about the Sooners' win:
On how Dillon Gabriel became available to play
"He was really limited for the first part of the week, and passed certain protocols during the course of the week. Doctors just said, 'Here's what he can do at practice. Here's what he can't do.' And, no surprise, he's as competitive and tough minded and determined of a young man that I've been around. And when you get into the game, the thing that he brings to the table is his ability to execute at a really high level, he was very accurate today and his decision making was just on point. He's able to run the ball, extend plays, throw the ball away. He was just fabulous really all day today."
On Drake Stoops' clutch receptions
"Dang coaches kids. Those were huge. And that's what he's done. When I was at Clemson, I'd watch and he'd motion over there and (you think) it's gonna be a pass and nope, he's coming over there to crack somebody with emotion and man he would do the dirty work.
"Carol, his mama, talked about throwing him and Isaac the ball on the trampoline, practicing catches and them getting mad, saying, 'I don't want you to throw the easy ones. Make me dive for it.' That's literally a conversation she shared with this, 'Throw the hard ones.' And he makes all the hard ones look easy, doesn't he? I don't take that for granted.
"Timing wise, he's always been right on time since he's been given his opportunity here. If his career is defined (by) a word, there's lots of really good words you can use, but timely is one of them. Everything he's done from a production standpoint, it's been right on time when we've needed it the most, and he makes it look so easy that sometimes you can look right past that and you look at maybe the actual touchdown catch or touchdown run, but it was that play within the drive. And that's who he's been man. He's Mr. Reliable."
On Billy Bowman's pick six
"He's dynamic with the ball in his hands. Really proud of him, that doesn't just happen by osmosis. He puts a lot of work into it. He's skilled, he's talented, but it takes a lot more than that. And he's put a lot of work into this game."
On defensive slippage
"I thought one drive in the first half was bad (on defense) and (we had) a whole bunch of great drives in the first half. So there's not slippage there. The other team actually is pretty good on offense, so I always have that perspective. The slippage in the second half that was really bad, I can't say (what it was) other than, it's third-and-3 and your man outside releases, they're gonna throw the ball. And so don't be surprised. So we relaxed and we missed tackles and we missed some (run) fits, and it wasn't just one guy."
On regret if OU doesn't make the Big 12 ChampionshipÂ
"I don't live like that. We get what we've earned, and what's done is done. You learn from it, and I'll use this moment, this season and those moments ... To teach and learn. This is what the game punishes you for, and this is what the game honors you for. And all of us, we'll all learn through that.
" ... I'm still mad about what happened. Whether I was disappointed or mad about what happened several weeks ago, I don't sit here and throw it in the players' faces right now. We did that already, and the coaches' faces. We've learned from it and got better from it, moved on and don't let that beat us again or define us. It's a chapter in the book. You got a whole book. ... I believe in God's will, and I believe in eyes forward."
On Jeff Lebby emerging as a head coach candidate
"I want all my guys to have opportunity, and I'll support them in whatever way I can. And my charge to all the staff is everything has its time. Some of it's not ideal time, stay focused and locked in to what we got to do, that's what our players deserve, and don't be a distraction. But I'm for all my guys having an opportunity to advance their careers."
On Gentry Williams' lingering shoulder injury
"I'm sure it's been frustrating for him but man, he is so tough and he loves to play, he's a pleaser, he's got a tremendous ceiling. But again, he's just a young guy trying to figure out how to play and then just trying to stay healthy. That's a lot to fight through, but he's better because of it. And (he's) got a great, great future."
