I saw in an interview that DC Venerbles had been with Clemson for 7 years. How has he not been snagged for a head coaching job before now? Bama seem to lose their coordinators every year, but Clemson just chugs along. Looking at the rest of the staff, the majority have been with Dabo for over 6 years. That kind of continuity can't be bought. What is Dabo's secret? Don't these guys have any ambition to move up the coaching ladder? Thoughts?
First of all (I'm a former Bama resident as a child), congratulations on beating us OU, soundly as even though the numbers were under the 14 predicted, the game was never in doubt unless we connected on the on side kick.
To the question above, Brent V. came to OU with Mike and Bob Stoops, from Kansas St. where they created great defenses for them under Coach Snyder, also a great coach; Mike Stoops and Brent V. were more like a single person than two individuals when working together; After Mike went to U of Az. Brent had our D all by himself and we didn't do very well; but that was about the time the spread offenses came in and no one and even now no one really has an answer, much like the wishbone when atm, us and you guys came out with that; it stayed (Still does with Army, Ga.Tech.etc) strong and pretty much unanswerable till Jimmy Johnson and his great Miami teams. It was during this time the Oklahoma fans became negative toward Brent, it just wasn't getting done and left people believing since the downturn happened after Mike Stoops left, then it must be just Brent and the move started for getting Mike Stoops back (lesson learned, huge, super huge mistake) after he was let go from U. of AZ. we should have paid attention to the folks in Az.
So Mike came back and we still weren't as good on D as before. The fan base began to divide on the issue and since Mike, being Bob's brother, had that going for him, it was going to be Brent who left, everything else the same; when Clemson came calling Brent interviewed and wasn't snowed over, but liked it all the same; he in fact almost refused to board a connecting flight on his way for a final interview with Dabo; had he done that who knows ?? but he did and all reports are it was a match in every way. The rest is history, but and of interest is, Brent was always a good, very good recruiter and in the talent rich area he's in now, it was inevitable he would do well; what people are saying here are, that in the game last night, with Bama, that Brent had versions of the new trend in defending the spread and that is speed and attack modes. Of course the schemes matter and again the word here in OU land the thought is he took chances with his D and had them play to the Bama trends on plays and it worked....your thoughts can take it from there.
Brent of course still has many friends in Oklahoma and word here is as many on this thread have said, he's happy with his salary (and OU does not pay that much yet unless the new guy Grinch will be paid that), family and accomodations; still everyone here is guessing he will be getting real serious Head Coaching offers for some time and that he will likely take one, though as an assistant it's probably as good as it gets for him now.
Personally I don't buy into this being the end of the era for Bama or Nick Saban as some media pundits ask, I think simply to bring attention to themselves; there is always room to learn in this game and nobody does that better. Bama is a dynasty, just flat out is and this game though negative does not deter from that but for the very brief period of time. I look for pretty much the same cast to be in the playoffs for some time and with a defense OU may get one soon, IF OU can keep a top notch Offense; it looks easy when its going on but football smart people know you never ever take any success for granted; it's all worked for and hard work.
Hat's off to you guys for another truly great season and hope to see you again very soon.