KNOXVILLE, TN — As Brent Venables strolled off the Neyland Stadium field, he paused. The OU football head coach, in a red sweater with “ Oklahoma ” stitched across his chest, spotted a pocket of crimson high in the upper deck.

He started toward them, then stopped when he ran into his quarterback. In the orange-and-white checkered end zone, Venables slung his arm around John Mateer and waved. For a moment, he looked entirely at peace.

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