Oklahoma HC Brent Venables and former Sooners LB make strong statements about Tennessee Vols HC Josh Heupel

Tennessee Vols head coach Josh Heupel and Oklahoma Sooners head coach Brent Venables know each other quite well.

Heupel played at Oklahoma from 1999 to 2000 before serving as an assistant coach for the Sooners from 2006 to 2014.

Venables, meanwhile, was Oklahoma's defensive coordinator from 1999 to 2011 before returning to Norman in 2022 to take over as the Sooners' head coach.

On Monday night, during Sooners Sport Talk , Venables was asked about his memories of Heupel at Oklahoma ahead of a huge showdown this weekend in Norman between the Sooners and the Vols.

"Model of consistency," said Venables when asked about Heupel. "Same guy every single day. He could be friends with anybody and not have to try. It was just really easy -- people wanted to follow him. Not a rah-rah guy at all. He's a guy that has great poise. The moment was never too big for Josh. So just great composure and poise as a leader and competitor."

Former Oklahoma linebacker Teddy Lehman, who was a true freshman in 2000 when Heupel led the Sooners to their last national championship, chimed in after Venables' comments and said he'd "take a bullet" for Heupel.

"I'll say this, I'd take a bullet for that guy." said Lehman. "After I got that punt block at [Kansas State], he took them down and scored, kicked a field goal and gave us a little cushion. I'll do anything for Heup."

Things at Oklahoma may have ended on a sour note for Heupel (he was fired by Bob Stoops as OU's offensive coordinator after the 2014 season), but it's clear there's a lot of love for the former Sooners quarterback in Norman.

And there should be. Heupel was an elite competitor for Oklahoma. And he helped expedite the rebuild under Stoops in 1999 and 2000. It took everyone on that 2000 team to win a natty, but without Heupel, I'm not sure they're hanging a banner after that season.

Heupel will be the enemy on Saturday when the Vols come to town, but I still expect him to receive a warm reception from the Oklahoma faithful.

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