The Oklahoma Sooners are in the market for a football coach. Previous coach Lincoln Riley has departed for the riches of the real USC out on the west coast. Why would a coach of a fanbase self-proclaimed blue blood football school bolt for another quote enquote blue blood school? Money? Fear of getting his hat handed to him in the SEC? There are any number of reasons.
The media and “sooner boomer” fans love to point to Heisman winners Baker Mayfield, Jalen Hurts, and Tyler Murray as Riley successes and how he is the QB guru. Well, the fact is, Riley didn’t recruit any of those guys out of high school, and the last two came to play for only one year. These guys were already developed, but we won’t go there. BTW, Spencer Rattler was a Heisman hopeful going into the season. We all know how this worked out.
Research on the web, you’ll find umpteen videos regarding WHY Oklahoma wouldn’t hire Clemson defensive coordinator Brent Venables. “He is an Oklahoma boy, Stoops brought him in a long time ago.” “Brent Venables would bring a bite back to the Oklahoma defense.”. The media already has Venables packing his bags and heading out to Norman to assume his rightful position.
Has anyone bothered to stop and ask Venables what he wants to do? BV is a smart man. He left Oklahoma and moved south at a time when Clemson football was coming off a humiliating loss to West Virginia, a game MANY Clemson fans look back on as the turning point in this Clemson program. The game was played on January 4th, 2012. January 20th, Venables was hired as the Clemson DC. Since that hire, the Tigers have 120 games and lost only 17 games, and Venables has been a HUGE part of this.
This isn’t a secret. Running a football program is hard. A head coach must put his finger print on everything involved. The responsibilities are endless and Dabo has set the blueprint; recruiting, dealing with administration, media, parents, coaches, players. Coach Swinney has proven he has what it takes. The key to being a successful head coach at a big time program is directly linked to hiring the best assistant coaches that fits the culture. Clemson coaches are on the same page and have the same goals.
The question isn’t whether Brent Venables is ready to be the face of a program. The question is does Brent Venables WANT to take on the headaches, trials and tribulations of being the head coach at a major program, hiring his own coaches, and stretching himself thin instead of doing what he obviously loves; coaching and running his defense. There is something to be said for huge money, and then there is something to be said for the quality of the job. Don’t be surprised if Venables stays put, much to the dismay of Sooner fans, and Oklahoma hires Georgia DC Dan Lanning.
Every college football season ends with coaches being hired and fired, and Brent Venables name always comes up. Schools think that throwing big money at coaches is the end all, especially “blueblood” schools. Now, at some point, BV might go the head coach route, but this man truly loves Clemson and Clemson football. He has been very successful at doing what Brent Venables does. He recruits at a high level, coaches at the same level and the man will forever be a Clemson favorite whether he leaves or not. The media and the fans can hope all they want, it will come down to what is best for Brent Venables. He is the highest paid assistant coach in college football at $2.5 million a year and the contract runs through 2026. He could double or even triple that being the head coach at Oklahoma, but……….is it worth it. Only Venables knows what is going to happen next.
8 Comments
Very well said! I do agree that Brent Venables enjoys his work, he has said on several occasions that he doesn’t think he is equipped to do what Dabo does! Just last year he said while debating another opportunity…”Why mess with Happy”…his family loves Clemson and he makes all the money he could ever dream of, why would he want to mess that up for an unknown entity that often can’t be controlled. I personally think he is exactly right in his thinking, he isn’t motivated by money, he is motivated by what happens on the field, you can see it in his eyes….he absolutely loves his job and I am grateful he does. He has meant as much to Clemson Football and those young men he has coached as Dabo has to the same.
Looks like a done deal folks, the Oklahoma Jet has arrived at GS Airport and the AD and others are heading to Clemson to finalize the deal according to reports. I hope if falls apart, but it certainly doesn’t look good for Clemson keeping Brent V!
Brent has the eye of the Tiger and exactly what we need to keep in Clemson. His defenses are unpredictable and hard to game plan for. We need to do everything possible to keep him. I played middle linebacker and his aggressive style is very entertaining not to mention effective.
Pay him 3 to 4 million if necessary to keep him. It will pay for itself in the long run. Recruiting is the key and he has many who want to play for him. If he leaves then Dabo will replace him with a good one, but he may have to establish his reputation over the next few years by the defensive performance of his players.
What you have said is 100% on target and exactly what I think too. Only a small percentage of Assistant Coaches even become successful as a Head Coach because you are going from being a Coach to being a Manager.
Grow where God has planted you Brent. We definitely owe you another raise and an extension. Without your coaching we could have easily been a 6-6 team this year. Your defense saved the season and you capped it all off with an outstanding shutout. Thank you Sir!
Fantastic article and I believe BV stays!!
Looks like a done deal folks, the Oklahoma Jet has arrived at GS Airport and the AD and others are heading to Clemson to finalize the deal according to reports. I hope if falls apart, but it certainly doesn’t look good for Clemson keeping Brent V!