By John Shinn
When Oklahoma faces Kansas State Saturday, it will be a homecoming of sorts for Bob Stoops and Brent Venables. Stoops spent several seasons as a defensive assistant under former Kansas State coach Bill Snyder and Venables played there before joining Snyder’s staff.
Stoops’ first two games against Kansas State in 2000 and 2001 featured a huge story line because of the relationships he, Venables and then-offensive coordinator Mark Mangino had with Snyder. After nearly a decade, it’s lost its luster.
“I’ve already done that,” Stoops said when asked about his relationship with Kansas State following Monday’s practice. “It’s been 10 years now.”
Snyder is absent from the equation, too.
He stepped down at Kansas State following the 2005 season. This year’s meeting with the Wildcats will be OU’s first since Ron Prince took over as head coach in 2006.
Since retiring, Snyder has remained close to the school. He’s been an active fundraiser and lives in Manhattan.
But he has ventured to Norman recently. He was a guest speaker at the Sooners’ coaches clinic last spring.
“It was kind of like being in an old staff meeting,” Venables said.
