What they said: OU players after getting Golden Hat back
OU head coach Brent Venables didn’t want to use the word redemption for himself, but we’re going to after Saturday.
It was redemption for Venables, for OU football, for the university. In a game no OU fan will forget, the Sooners took down Texas 34-30 in the final Big 12 edition of the Red River Rivalry.
SoonerScoop was out in full force for all the postgame interviews. Here is the best of the best.
Podium
OC Jeff Lebby
That embrace with Dillon Gabriel after the game?
“It means everything. That’s what it’s all about to me. He’s a guy that has continued to just stick to the plan and understands what it means to be the quarterback here and wants to fight his butt off to put us in positions to win football games and chase championships. He’s doing that right now. We’ve gotta continue to get better. But just so happy for him.”
C Andrew Raym
Does last year’s experience make this oh-so much sweeter?
“For sure. It definitely does. I definitely think we’re also feeding off of last year as well. We’ve had a sick taste in our mouth since that last game last year. You could tell this offseason and going into the season, the work and the attention the boys are putting in to everything—yeah. It’s good. Real good.”
Message going into final drive?
“This is it. This is what we’ve been working for. Eight months of preparing for this moment right here, boys. We couldn’t ask for any better situation than to go win it right here.”
WR Nic Anderson
What did you see on that final touchdown?
“Me and Stog (Austin Stogner) actually ran into each other, and I was the one that came open. I saw the ball. That’s the last thing I remember. And then just seeing the fans and looking into their eyes, it was a crazy, electric moment. I’m glad they were pointing to me.”
You’re now in Red River lore?
“I haven’t wrapped my head around it. I’m trying to cool off a little bit. The legacy here is crazy this game. I’ve seen it all my life. And 100 years, it’s been played. It’s kind of hitting it right now. It’s just insane.”
DE Ethan Downs
Extra edge?
“I always try to play that way. Today, we were all highly motivated. It was easy for us to keep pushing and grinding. I happened to fall into some things that other guys have had happened in the last few weeks. Keep fitting our gaps, keep being a sound defense. It shows up. I just got lucky today.”
Watching Gabriel on that final drive?
“It was amazing. There was a group of guys on the sideline saying a prayer thanking God for the day. Seeing the touchdown right after we said ‘Amen’ was really cool.”
LB Jaren Kanak
What decides a game like this?
“It just comes down to our process and our preparation and knowing that it’s pretending like it’s a 0-0 ballgame, no matter what happens and keep pushing on. Understanding that every play could be the play that defines the game. You love a close game like that. It just comes down to our preparation and how prepared we were for that game in those moments especially.”
