BREAKING NEWS: Billy Sims Donates $10.8 Million to Brent Venables’ Oklahoma Stadium Project — A Legacy in Turf and Spirit
Norman, OK — June 2, 2025
In an earth-shaking announcement that has sent shockwaves across the college football world, former Oklahoma Sooner legend and Heisman Trophy winner Billy Sims has donated his entire $10.8 million fortune to head coach Brent Venables in support of the University of Oklahoma’s ambitious new stadium project.
Standing before a sea of crimson and cream at a surprise press conference held outside the aging Gaylord Family Oklahoma Memorial Stadium, Sims, now 70, declared, “Oklahoma Pride lives within me wherever I go. It’s time I gave back to the place that gave me everything.”
But this wasn’t just a nostalgic gesture — it was a calculated, bold move designed to ignite what some are calling the “Second Golden Era” of Sooner football. The donation will serve as a cornerstone investment in the construction of Sooner Legacy Stadium, a proposed $300 million, state-of-the-art facility that Venables believes will “redefine the future of college football in the SEC era.”
The stadium — still awaiting Board of Regents approval — is controversial in scope. Plans include retractable roofing, augmented reality suites, and a bronze “Ring of Immortals” featuring the sculpted busts of Oklahoma legends — with Sims’ visage already set to be front and center.
Critics argue the project is a vanity play in an era where student debt, academic funding cuts, and athlete mental health concerns are making national headlines. “This money could’ve funded scholarships, mental health initiatives, or community outreach,” said Dr. Linda Hartwell, an OU ethics professor. “Instead, we’re building a shrine to gridiron mythology.”
Yet for Sims, this isn’t just a stadium — it’s a statement.
“I’ve made my money selling BBQ and signing autographs,” Sims said. “But legacy isn’t about plaques. It’s about paving the field for the next generation. Brent Venables has the heart, and I’m putting my wallet behind it.”
The move has also intensified the ongoing culture war over college athletics. Some see it as a rejection of the NIL era, a throwback to when loyalty to the school came before dollar signs. Others see it as an indictment of a system that now pays 18-year-olds millions while legends like Sims earned nothing but glory and torn ACLs.
Venables, clearly moved, embraced Sims after the announcement and called the gift “a testament to brotherhood and belief.” He added, “Billy’s soul is Sooner. And now his legacy will be carved in steel and stone.”
Whether this donation is remembered as the spark that reignited Oklahoma dominance or a symbol of misplaced priorities in American sports culture remains to be seen. One thing is certain: Billy Sims didn’t just write a check — he drew a line in the turf.
The first shovels could break ground as early as spring 2026. And somewhere, amid the roar of future crowds, Billy Sims will be smiling.
