Giving a lifetime coordinator their first HC gig at a top CFB job seems less than ideal. I mean, unless you like a lot greater chance that you'll become us than if you just went out and got someone proven as a HC.
No one knows if he'll be a good coach or not. No one knows if Riley or Kelly will be good hires at USC or LSU. But there's a much likelier chance they will be than Venebles. He would be a good hire for Arkansas because programs like that need to take a bit of a flyer on a 50 year old who has somehow never landed a HC job. I mean they had to take a gamble on a position coach who never had even been a coordinator. Looks like that's working out though. You would think schools like Oklahoma could poach a guy who has a proven track record of success as a HC.
My skepticism mostly comes from him being by all accounts a lunatic who wants to scheme defense and do nothing else. It is difficult to picture that type of guy seamlessly transitioning into the CEO type role that a program the size of OU requires.
I still haven't seen anyone mention a legitimately better, viable candidate given the circumstances. Bring in Lebby as OC, hire a DC, and he's keeping most of the existing staff together including our OL Coach who everyone thought was all but locked up to USC. No matter who we brought in, it was going to be less than perfect, but I think this gives a sense of at least some stability even if it isn't some giant splash hire (Which didn't actually exist).
the argument against coordinators getting big jobs "just because they haven't done it before" seems sort of silly. Chip Kelly, Jimbo Fisher, Ryan Day, Dabo Swinney, Lincoln Riley, David Shaw, Mark Stoops, Gary Patterson, Kyle Whittingham, Mike Gundy, Pat Fitzgerald, and Kirby Smart all have had or are having success as 1st time HC after being coordinators (or just an assistant as with Fitzgerald and Dabo). even just looking at guys at "big name programs", you can argue that Fisher, Riley, Day, and Kirby have all shown that a coordinator can make the leap to being a successful HC at a top 10 program. Venables may not be successful yet factors beyond him never having been a HC before may be more important than that one factor.
I mean, anyone that's a proven HC? Brian Kelly left Notre Dame. Lincoln Riley left OU. Mario Cristobal left Oregon. Lots of guaranteed money can be interesting to more people than you think. Maybe it'll work out great. But odds are it won't compared to someone proven. It seems like OU went out and hit an infield single because OU connection instead of trying to go for better candidates.
A lof those guys were offensive assistants under a previously successful, if not transformative, HC with a support staff and group of coaches that all stayed. And a lot were young HCs and not lifetime coordinators.
It’s not Oklahoma’s fault they couldn’t pull dynasty builder and major splash hire Shane Train away from U of SC.
True just going off DC being able to be successful HC theme. Another note for OU is they have been successful going with coordinators versus proven head coaches.
This is 100% a Bandaid, I couldn't agree more and am not sold on BV (Especially long term). That being said, bringing in solid Coordinators and keeping the staff together outweighs the BV hire, IMO. It's a lot easier to recover with continuity rather than bringing in someone like Fickell who not only would have turnover the entire staff, but would also have to learn an entirely new landscape of recruiting, etc.
yes, Kelly, Day, Riley, and Shaw would fit in that. Fisher, Gundy, and Dabo took over as offensive assistants for "less than successful" teams.
venables will have that OU D ridiculous in no time though. he had clemson D top 10 by his 3rd year. 2011 - 71 (steele fired and venables hired in offseason) 2012 - 64 (first venables year) 2013 - 24 (second year) 2014 - first overall and 2014 was a year where clemson had zero fucking offense except for 4 games when deshaun was healthy and we've had a top10 defense every year since 2014 (minus 2020 where we dropped to 15)
This weird ass revisionist theory ou fans have come up with about venables is hilarious They were making fun of clemson fans for taking him when he left cc: dallasdawg
Clemson fans seem to have forgotten the days when it was unfathomable for someone to leave Oklahoma for the same position at Clemson on their own accord.
I can remember some of the crazies thinking we were interviewing Stoops when we got Venables. Sort of like those thinking Dabo was interviewing this time.
You know - you dont have to be overly sensitive every time Arkansas is brought up. If it makes you feel any better, my comments apply to Mizzou and every other school except maybe 10-12 programs.
You’re welcome. We’ll probably have to do this again shortly unless you find a way to get out of your feelings
Ofc I know he coached there, and I remember everyone saying he was a shit hire when Clemson got him. Maybe he learned from his time at Clemson idk, but he churned out an amazing defense every year here so I’m gonna say that will prob carry over to OU. Maybe I’m wrong, but idc and it’s not like I have anything riding on this
Didn't OU have the best defensive ppg avg when Venables left ( or maybe forced out?), I have no idea what went down. But I remember the offenses being ridiculous in the B12 at that time.
OU lost 3 games in 2011. It allowed 41, 45 and 44 points in those three games. I have no clue what happened between Stoops/OU and Venables, but I'm assuming those point totals didn't help.
Oklahoma consistently having one of it not the best offense in the conference sort of muddies this statistic. Not having to face the best offense in the conference is quite the leg up on the competition.
ClemBert was cranking this in the background with a little tear rolling down his cheek while writing that masterpiece.