Transcript: Brent Venables talks to Toby Rowland on Sports Talk 1400 AM The REF
Transcript of new Clemson and former Oklahoma defensive coordinator Brent Venables interview with Toby Rowland on Sports Talk 1400 AM The REF. You can listen to the interview here.
Toby Rowland: Joined now by Brent Venables. Coach, how are you doing?
Brent Venables: Good, Toby. How are you?
Rowland: I’m sad today with the news that you’re headed to Clemson, but I’m happy for you. I know this must be an exciting move. Just tell us off the top here why you made the decision.
Venables: Obviously I have the same mixed feelings that you have. It’s an incredibly exciting opportunity, um, but to look in the rear-view mirror and to leave behind the relationships, um, you know, the attachment to the University of Oklahoma and all the people and support, staff and administration, and relationships with the players and the coaches, yes, it’s a sad day, one that you never really think about until you have to face it. So, um, but I’ve, you know, got an incredible opportunity. It was a really difficult decision obviously. Anybody like yourself when you made the decision to leave the news station — this is no different. There’s pros and cons, and plusses and minuses. You’ve got people and relationships that are pulling you. That’s just kind of part of life. I felt deep down that this was the right thing for me to do at the right time in my life.
I was incredibly happy. I’ve been happy at Oklahoma, and I thought that next year we had a chance to have a really, really good football team and a great future, and the side that looked into staying here … I’ve got a fabulous relationship with Mike Stoops, and I thought together we are better, and I thought we could really rekindle the old magic, if you will. I was really looking forward to the idea of that.
But just the pull of Clemson, it’s just from a timing standpoint. Everything does have a time, and I just felt that this was my time, you know, at Oklahoma, and it was time to make a move.
Rowland: Talk about the pull of Clemson and plusses and minuses. You know how cynical we are in the media. All we talk about are dollar figures. What were the plusses at Clemson, what is the pull to Clemson after you met with Dabo Swinney and saw the campus and everything that led you to make this decision?
Venables: I have a lot of friends in the business, particularly in the Southeastern Conference, that have always talked highly of Clemson. Of course a couple years ago I looked into the idea of possibly going there when they had an opening (for a head coach) and did some research. But everybody has always raved about the opportunity to recruit players that’s in a recruiting hotbed, and location is everything in college athletics. It’s a beautiful part of the country. I think they’ve got a young team that’s very talented and a really good group of coaches who believe in what they’re doing. Coach Swinney’s got a magnetic personality, very infectious, high energy, attitude and really he’s a very genuine, sincere man, father, coach. I just really was attracted to that and what they’ve got going there right now.
And again I thought that, I’ve never been one, I’m kind of a be-here-now kind of guy. I always have been. I always believe in that mantra of worry about the job you’re doing today and enjoy and respect and appreciate what you do have. But at the same time I think if we have the kind of success ultimately that we all want to have this could be an opportunity for me down the road to potentially become a head coach one day as well.
Rowland: You know what everybody said when Mike came back was that your feelings must be hurt. It sounds like from the opening thing that you said that that wasn’t the case, but expound on that a little bit. What were your thoughts when Mike came back?
Venables: Oh, I was really happy. When we went through some of the scenarios that was the first one that I was in support of and suggested. I thought that we know each other. It’s not a new system. We’ve got great respect. We talk almost on a weekly basis since he left eight years ago. He gave me the shirt off his back to get into the coaching profession. (I) lived with him for a year. We’ve got a very deep long history and relationship together both professionally and personally. (I have) great, great respect for him as a coach and as a friend. It was very comforting. The easy, safe thing for me to do was to stay at Oklahoma.
You know, contrary to the media, if I had stayed coach and Mike and everybody else administratively wanted to put me in charge. But at the end of the day like he’s always said it’s going to be a collective decision-making process. It’s just how you do it, whether it was Mike here or Willie (Martinez) here or Bobby Jack or it was Bo (Pelini), it just doesn’t matter. That’s how you put together a game plan. You go through all the situations, scenarios for game day. “What do we want to go to in these different scenarios?” You get way too much credit when you win and probably a little too much criticism when you lose. But somewhere in between is probably about right.
It’s always a collective deal, and you work through all those situations and share in the success as well. The dynamics were going to be really just how they were when Bo and I were together, and really that’s how they insisted that it be. Oklahoma, I’m very humbled. I felt they moved mountains to change some philosophical approach on financial, on how they pay you — multi-year opportunity with virtually the same amount of money that Clemson was offering. At the end of the day it came down to feeling like really it was time for me to go pursue a really unique opportunity, one I didn’t know would maybe come up again.
Rowland: So OU was able to get close to matching the dollar figure?
Venables: Oh yeah. Years and dollar figure. So I couldn’t have been more humbled. Really, again, their actions and what they were willing to do for me and my family to keep me in Norman … believe me it was a really gut-wrenching process for me.
Rowland: So the fact that your name started popping up for these other positions (and) coincided with Mike’s return was coincidental more than anything. It wasn’t a fact that you were upset and started seeking other positions.
Venables: Absolutely not. I don’t have anything to be upset about. I’ll say this: I was very sad to see Coach Martinez go. He’s a terrific coach and an even better man. I thought he was really good for us. That’s part of the profession, but the flip side was I was incredibly excited about the idea of Mike coming back and being back here in Oklahoma and us working together. And I knew without question that we would do great things and get out on the recruiting trail and kick butt and just do terrific things on the field. And again, he and I both totally agree, along with Coach Stoops, that in he and I supporting each other is better than the alternative by a long shot. I know Mike is a high-energy, real aggressive personality, but he is transparent. He wants to win. He actually doesn’t have an ego. He’s just hard to please, just like myself, just in regards to really pushing and wanting the best and striving for excellence. I know, without reservation, that together it would have been a great dynamic situation for all of us. So again I felt I needed to make a decision based on what I wanted to do for the next 15-20 years of my career and the opportunities that may or may not come. And the other opportunities weren’t nearly as appealing as this one. Let’s face it, I have to always look at financial security for my family when it’s there. You’ve got to strike while the iron’s hot. At the end of the day too, you can’t make these decisions based on finances. I firmly believe that.
Rowland: Just a couple more questions. I know you’re incredibly busy. Take us inside your world a little bit. What’s the last week been like with, I know West Virginia came after you, I don’t know how much you can talk about that, but the Clemson thing and you’re recruiting out with Mike on the road. And I’ve got to imagine the last six or seven or eight days, however long it’s been, has been a complete whirlwind. And in between all that you’re sitting down with your wife trying to figure out what’s best for your family and everything. As much as you feel comfortable with, what’s your world been like the last week or so?
Venables: Well, it’s been really emotional to be honest because you have to look at it from these are some life-changing decisions and there’s a lot of people that are affected. Again, in a very selfish way, you don’t want to leave these relationships behind. And although the friendships won’t ever go away, it’s just that everything changes. So the idea of turning your world upside down is actually pretty scary. But again, I think you can’t get to third if you don’t take your foot off first, so, as they say. I guess it’s something I felt pulled, and like I needed to do. A lot of sleepless nights. I’ll be honest I don’t ever have a hard time sleeping. I mean I pass out — and it is easy for me to sleep. I have not been able to, as you can imagine. There’s a lot going on. I got great support and a lot of people look at it as “Whoa, what a great problem to have.” I actually thought it was a nightmare, to be honest with you.
I don’t know, just very emotional. I’m very much a people person and relationships matter to me, and a very loyal person, so yeah, a lot of traveling and a lot of sleepless nights. A lot of phone calls. I tried to, you know, all the while, go recruiting for Oklahoma because I gotta plan that’s where I want to be and at the end of the day if I’m going to be there I want to make sure we’ve got a loaded gun too. Until things were final and I found some clarity and a peace of mind at what I was going to do, things need to go on as though I was going to be here. And I’ll be honest, (the) couple days that I was with Mike was awesome. It brought up a lot of old times. It was good to be with him. I know this, Oklahoma is going to be in great shape. I really felt we’re going to have a great team. There’s a great deal of youth, but a bunch of talent and a bunch of coaches who are fired up and ready to get things back on track.
I know we were 10-3, not 3-10, but I do know a lot of guys around the office and the players to aren’t satisfied and are really looking forward to better days.
Rowland: Well, you’re going to knock it out of the park, man. I don’t have any doubt. I know you’re going to be a head coach in the very near future, and who knows, you may be the head coach at the University of Oklahoma someday. The one drawback to this is, well, there’s two drawbacks: The one is we’re losing a fabulous coach and a dynamic personality in Brent Venables. The second drawback is you realize that orange is a part of the color scheme at Clemson. You’re going to have don some orange shirts in the not-too-distant future.
Venables: I’ve heard. I’ve heard that that’s the case, so – and also purple (laughs). I think I’ll wear it just fine. I can’t thank you enough. Everybody associated with Oklahoma has just been first class. I’ve had my highest of highs professionally. I’ve had my highest of highs personally in my life and also the most difficult times of my life, both personally and professionally, it’s really had a profound impact on my family, and we’re incredibly blessed and associated with this great university and all the people and players. All my children are Normanites (long pause) and it will always be great memories, so, believe it or not I will still call this home.
Rowland: Well, we’re going to miss you man. I’ll be pulling for you big time. And you better keep in touch. We’ll be rooting for you. You know we love you and we’ll be pulling for you. Thanks for joining us for a few minutes today.
Venables: Love you, too. Thanks Tobe.
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Comments
Wow. YOur post stunk, Jerry. Nepotism? Mike is obviously very qualified. Martinez was terrible. OU is a far superior program to Clemson. If you think winning the ACC is impressive than maybe you’ve just never watched college football. OU’s team, worts and all, would have won the ACC last year. What did Clemson do in their bowl game against at average West Virginia team? LOL.
Hey Trout,
Because of the bowl game we came and swiped your DC. Anything would have been an improvement over our last one at Clemson.
OU is obviously not far superior to Clemson, read the above quotes from your ex-coach.
Venables said it himself, people rave about Clemson, Clemson is in a recruiting hotbed, Clemson has loads of talent, and Clemson has the right coaching staff in tact to make some major noise.
Wipe the egg off your face…
Go Tigers!
Superior program? What happened the last time OU and Clemson played? I believe the Tigers beat the Sooners. So, for now Clemson is the superior program
Jeff, also read the above post. Clemson is nothing more than a lily pad for Venables to get a head coaching job one day. To suggest Clemson is the same level program as Oklahoma is laughable.
How many BCS Bowl games has Clemson played in? How many times have they been ranked in the top 10 over the last 10 years?
Of course Venables is going to say nothing but great things about Clemson, that is his next employer before moving on to bigger and better things afterwards.
He hated leaving Oklahoma, and rightfully so, but he has to do what is best for his future career. He wants to be a head coach some day, and this is an opportunity for him to get out of his comfort zone and make his name known from a football program that is not like Oklahoma.
Ty, last time they played was in 1988 and Switzer’s last year. Otherwise OU is 2-1 vs Clemson. Clemson also finished 22nd and OU finished 16th in the AP.
Clemson will be better with an OU defensive coordinator.
Are you crazy Ty? You surely are not serious! My God know your history and facts about OU before you make a statement like that. OU is one of the top five college football programs of all-time. Ranked #1 in the modern era! (1945-present). Sure, Clemson is ok but not in the same conversation as OU, Alabama, USC, Notre Dame, Ohio State, and a few others.
William I think some of these Clemson fans need to read a previous article.
http://newsok.com/brent-venables-best-career-move-might-be-leaving-sooners/article/3639837
This is not about Oklahoma vs. Clemson, this is about Brent Venables and his future. He wants to be a head coach some day.
My original comment was that the hiring of Mike Stoops forced the loss of two coaches. The question is if his name had not been Stoops would Bob Stoops have hired him knowing what was likely to happen. Also, would Bob Stoops have hired someone to be co-defensive coordinator and essentially demote Venables if that person was not named Stoops? Bob Stoops did not go looking for a co-defensive coordinator (although the program might need an infusion of new thought), he created a position on his staff because his brother was out of work. How many people did he interview for the job of co-defensive coordinator so he could be sure he selected the right person? I am not questioning the ability of Mike Stoops. I am only saying the driving reason for the hire was not a need by the OU football team, but a need by the Stoops family to provide employment to one of their own. Also, that this isn’t the only university sports program in the country that practices this policy. Look around and see how many family members are hired by head coaches in college sports. This is the one area of life where nepotism reigns supreme.
To Frank25:
Every coordinator is using the school they work as a lilypad to jump to a head coaching job, if they have aspirations to be a head coach. Do you think Nick Saban or Urban Meyer were sweating and wringing their hands over the potential departures of their coordinators? No. Why? Because talented coaches flock to places where they can pad their resume. Dan Mullen at Miss State. Gus Malzahn at Arkansas State. Jim McElwain at Colorado State.
These guys all “used” their employers as a lilypad to jump to a head coaching job. That’s advancement in college football. I wouldn’t act like OU is some special snowflake in the world of college football, because it isn’t. It may be a superior program than Clemson; I won’t argue for or against that. But, you’re kidding yourself if you think Venables left OU purely because it was a good career move.
You don’t uproot your family and move 1000 miles across country for what would be considered a “lateral” move at best. Venables wanted to run the show.
….and what coordinator worth his salt doesn’t aspire to be a head coach? That’s all the more reason to hire him. He’s got the right stuff. The guy OU just hired…..questionable at best. My 2 cents…..
Brandon you stated, “It may be a superior program than Clemson; I won’t argue for or against that. But, you’re kidding yourself if you think Venables left OU purely because it was a good career move.
You don’t uproot your family and move 1000 miles across country for what would be considered a “lateral” move at best. Venables wanted to run the show.” ”
First, Jeff stated, “OU is obviously not far superior to Clemson.” That was the reason I replied to that in the first place.
Secondly I am glad you realize, or at least at a minimum, cannot deny the fact that like any other coach it is a lilypad situation.
What you alluded to was the fact that I failed to mention the specifics of why it is a career move. The reason for the career move is that he needs to call the shots by himself in order for his career path to be more relevent. In the words of Berry Tramel “Professionally, Venables needed to move on. Needed to make a name for himself elsewhere, because his name had taken a hit in Norman.”
Venables apexed in Norman, and whether people like it or not, this is a career move.
Blair you think Mike Stoops is questionable at best? Are you serious? Ohio State, Nebraska, aTm, and even South Carolina were either highly considering Mike Stoops or at least leaning that direction. His resume is quite appealing to any major college football program.
Four of his five Oklahoma defenses finished seventh or better nationally in scoring defense and in the top 10 for total defense. Eighteen of the 42 defensive touchdowns (43 percent) in the Bob Stoops’ era came from a defense coached by Mike Stoops.
Has coached 25 NFL Draft Picks while players under his direction have combined for 11 national awards, 12 All-American honors, 29 All-Conference honors and 30 Academic All-Conference honors.
He is the the only coach to have an athlete win both the Nagurski Award (best defensive player) and the Thorpe Award (best defensive back) in the same season and has done so twice with Roy Williams (2001) and Derrick Strait (2003).
Questionable at best? riiiiiiiiiiight….
The hiring of a an out of work brother of the head coach does have consequences. One of them is the loss of two other coaches. One to make room on the staff and one because he was demoted to give the brother a title. I also wonder if Mike Stoops will be paid more than OU was paying Venables. Does anyone truly believe the defense will be better next year? College coaching is the one area where nepotism rules. I expect if Bob Stoops remains in coaching long enough we will have the second generation as coordinators in the future. Venables made the correct decision. After all which team won its conference and at least went to a BCS bowl.