Getty ImagesThe rumors connecting Oklahoma defensive coordinator Brent Venables to Clemson over the past week finally resulted in confirmation from Venables himself last night that he would be the new DC for the Tigers.
Reasons behind the move speculated from one extreme to the other. Some believed Venables was insulted that he would have to share the DC spot again with Mike Stoops; others pointed toward increased financial compensation at Clemson. As it is most of the time, it was probably a combination of factors and really somewhere in the middle.
Speaking with KREF Sports Talk 1400, Venables said the process was “gut wrenching” and included “lots of sleepless nights.”
“It was a difficult decision,” Venables said. “I felt deep down this was the right thing for me to do at the right time in my life.
“It’s an incredibly exciting opportunity, but to look in the rear view mirror and leave behind the relationships… to the University of Oklahoma… it’s a sad day.”
But after 13 years of service to Bob Stoops, Venables made a decision for Venables. Can you really blame a guy for that? Despite the fact that Oklahoma “moved mountains” to try to keep him — Venables said OU was able to get close to what Clemson was offering in both dollars and years — the longtime DC took a step to what he felt gave him a better opportunity to eventually be a head coach.
Isn’t that the ultimate goal of just about any coach? Venables, remember, was connected to the Clemson head coaching job a few years ago before it went to Dabo Swinney.
Of course, the big question still revolved around the re-hiring of Mike Stoops. Venables downplayed any friction.
“I have a fabulous relationship with Mike Stoops and I thought together we are better,” Venables said. “I thought we could rekindle the old magic, if you will.”
True, spun or otherwise, Venables has said and done all the right things in the process. If you’re going to leave, go out as a positive memory in people’s minds.
“I’ve had the highest of highs here both professionally and personally, and the lowest of lows here professionally and personally,” Venables said emotionally. “Believe it or not, I still call [Oklahoma] home.”
Right thing to do because they can only go up from here #70Points
Of course it was the right thing to do. If big brother keeps stunting your career advancement so he can keep his little brother employed then you have to move on.
It makes me wonder why so many fans consider a coach moving from one school to another as being disloyal. Coaching is a job. Who wouldn’t switch employers for more money and possibly a better future? As employers, schools show no loyalty to their coaches. As fans, we call for a coaches head if he underperforms.
Dabo better be looking over his shoulder at this guy. He will have his job within 3 years
How many retread coaches will SC have before Dabo leaves Clemson? When will they wake up to the fact that they were 3-2 this year and 2-4 last year against teams with winning records on game day? When will the SC fans realize they have won exactly one bowl game under Spurrier? When will they realize they can’t play 8 home games every years? My guess is shortly when the NCAA comes down hard on them for all their violations.
Then again when you have the long, long tradition of losing that SC has, its easy to lower expectations and have delusions of grandeur.
Of coarse Venables, known as a LB guru, looked at the Clemson roster and saw three young 5 star LBs on the roster and drooled at the possibilities.
See, USuCk fans have short memories and long tongues. What they forget is that Charlie Whitehurst and company came into their house and dropped 63 points on them. It would have been 90 points but I believe Clemson didn’t attempt a pass in the 4th quarter and our WR Chansi Stuckey played QB and still scored a TD. Talk all the trash they want because at the end of the day it is still an overall losing program that has been crooked since Steve Taneyhill’s nasty mullet was around.