OU football coach Brent Venables explains decision to fire Seth Littrell as Sooners’ OC
NORMAN — Brent Venables knew a change had to be made at offensive coordinator.
After reviewing OU football’s offense from spring ball to the South Carolina game, Venables got to the point where he didn’t feel like he was rushing judgment. The Sooners’ offense simply hasn’t lived up to the standard Venables has set.
“A lot goes into you making those types of changes and it’s over the last several months,” Venables said Monday on his weekly coaches show. “There’s a body of work that you look at all of it and evaluate it. Obviously, we haven’t played winning football on offense.”
A day after a 35-9 blowout home loss to South Carolina, Venables announced offensive coordinator Seth Littrell had been fired after seven games and that Joe Jon Finley would continue his role as co-offensive coordinator while taking on primary play-calling responsibilities. Senior offensive analyst Kevin Johns is being elevated to co-offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach.
More: Who will be OU football’s offensive coordinator in 2025? Here’s a way-too-early big board
Venables mentioned the need for a change in leadership and a different voice as reasons for the move.
“I do believe if we make some incremental improvement, play to our potential, do the things that the game requires you to do in order to execute and win (we can be successful),” Venables said.
“Number one, take care of the ball. In our three losses, we didn’t take care of the ball. … This week was a great example that when it was one sided in those turnovers and we didn’t provide those opportunities, it can get out of hand in a hurry. So again, all those things went into it.
” … There’s got to be accountability.”
Venables made clear the offense’s struggles aren’t solely on Littrell. He also said he chose Finley over Johns to call plays because Johns hasn’t been involved day-to-day with game planning as an “advanced scout.”
Venables said he believes if OU makes incremental improvement, it can still have success.
“There’s a real domino effect,” Venables said. “But at the end of the day, I’ve got to do what’s best for the players and certainly the program.”
Finley and Johns will lead the offense when the Sooners travel to face Mississippi at 11 a.m. Saturday on ESPN.
“(The offense) is completely unacceptable and embarrassing,” Venables said.
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