*IF* Harbaugh fails... Brent Venables?
First of all, I'm pulling for the team to turn things around and have a great season. Crazier things have happened (Lloyd's last yr, post-App St/Oregon, for example). But in the event it doesn't work out.. how about Brent Venables?
He's the best defensive mind in college football today. He's the only DC in the country who seems to be able to stop Elite modern offenses (in CFP games, against equal'ish competition).
He's only 48 yrs old. He's been the #2 man at a top-5 program (Oklahoma/Clemson) for the last 20 yrs; since he was 28. He knows how it's done at the highest level. He's an outstanding recruiter -- Rivals.com's National Recruiter of the year in 2016. He's got enough experience, 3 or 4 times over, to be ready.
He could probably bring one of Clemson's co-OC's (Tony Elliot-the more proven offensive mind *or* Jeff Scott-the elite recruiter) with him.. probably replacing himself as the highest-paid assistant in the land.
There's been talk about Clemson, Oklahoma over the yrs.. but he's been a college assistant coach for 26 yrs and I've never heard so much as a rumor about him doing anything below board (would you blame Don Brown if some Michigan booster gave a kid money?). I think it's completely irresponsible to baselessly say anything to the contrary.
Dabo, Kirby Smart, Lincoln Riley, Ryan Day -- the HC's at 4 of the top-5 programs had zero HC'ing experience before assuming their current roles.
And he publicly stated that he would've been interested in the Texas Tech HC'ing job had it been offered last yr. What other HC'ing jobs he's been offered in the past idk (he has, Dabo confirms).. but he makes more than half the power-5 coaches in his current role.. so it makes sense that he'd wait for a real big one.
I personally think he's the next Nick Saban. I think he'd be able to recruit / put together a staff of great recruiters. I think he'd be able to find solid, modern offensive minds. I think he'd be able to develop players. I think he'd be able to run our program with integrity. And I think he'd make elite defense (against elite competition.. sorry Don) the backbone of our program.. ala Saban.
What say you?
September 23rd, 2019 at 3:34 PM ^
If Brent wanted a HC gig he would’ve gotten one already.
Im sure he’s very comfortable at Clemson.
September 23rd, 2019 at 3:41 PM ^
As I said, he publicly stated that he wanted the Texas Tech HC'ing job last off-season. Maybe he just hasn't been offered one that pays significantly more than his current $2M/yr salary as a coordinator. Harbaugh makes about 4-5x as much.
September 23rd, 2019 at 3:41 PM ^
He definitely gets paid..... and has full control in what he does.... and wins. It's a good gig.
September 23rd, 2019 at 3:41 PM ^
How about we all just support our current coaches, and team and see how everything plays out? Yes things look bad, but there’s been teams in the past that have started slow and got it together. I like Harbaugh and I want it to work. Maybe it will, maybe it won’t, we have no control over any of this. I’m just going to continue to watch and hope for the best.
September 23rd, 2019 at 3:47 PM ^
Maybe RichRod should still be our coach. ?? I'm hoping for the best too.. but if it doesn't miraculously turn around..
We're an absolute national joke right now. Have you watched or listened to any national programs today? We're getting ripped harder than any crappy ND team ever did.
September 23rd, 2019 at 3:45 PM ^
I don't think it's accurate to compare him to Saban, who by age 48 was capping off an impressive run as HC of Michigan State. But sure, he would be a good candidate for HC of any major program, even if he lacks any specific Big 10 connections.
September 23rd, 2019 at 3:48 PM ^
Schematically, he actually runs a pretty similar defense.. if you delve into the x's and o's world. And with better results lately.
September 23rd, 2019 at 3:46 PM ^
You'd be a fool to say no to Venables if he wants to come here. But we don't know that he does. And it's not yet time to say for sure we need a change. That being said, if the season goes poorly, he better be one of the first phone calls you make.
But I'd ideally prefer an offensive-minded coach. It's been too long since people feared our offense over our defense. Call the assistants at Oklahoma and Oklahoma State, that's the hot spot for up and coming OC's. Just no more Alabama guys. Clearly the talent there makes the coordinators look smarter than they really are.
September 23rd, 2019 at 3:50 PM ^
I feel like it's easier to have a great defensive coach you can hang your hat on year-in-year-out, and to bring in those new hot offensive minds as your #2 (and then replace them when they get HC'ing gigs).
Wouldn't strongly argue against the opposite opinion, though.
September 23rd, 2019 at 3:55 PM ^
Rather have Les Miles.
September 23rd, 2019 at 3:59 PM ^
He is never leaving Clemson. Move on.
September 23rd, 2019 at 4:00 PM ^
He said he wanted the Texas Tech HC job less than 6 months ago. ????
September 23rd, 2019 at 4:20 PM ^
Please show us where he ever said that he "wanted the Texas Tech HC job." All I could find were quotes like this:
“Just so people understand in where I’m at right now, my son, Jake, is here (at Clemson as a freshman linebacker). He’s chasing a dream. I sold that dream to him. My responsibility as a dad is to support him for as long as he wants to chase his dreams. Who am I to be a hypocrite, regardless of what opportunities are out there? That’s how I look at it.”
Does that sound like a guy who is going to leave Clemson anytime soon? This is Brad Stevens during the basketball coaching search all over again.
Source on the quote: https://www.kcbd.com/2018/11/26/venables-texas-tech-coaching-job-ive-got-great-job/
September 23rd, 2019 at 4:38 PM ^
I'm looking for the article now.
As the playoff games/signing day(s) approached, he made statements like these.
September 23rd, 2019 at 4:42 PM ^
“I think he’d be a great head coach,” Clemson head coach Dabo Swinney said. “I know he’s had opportunities to be head coach. I just don’t think the right opportunity has come along that he’s wanted for whatever reason.”
Key word there -- "right".
-Harbaugh's salary ~ 400-500% of his current salary.
-2nd biggest fan base in college football.
-3rd richest football program in the country.
-Biggest stadium in the country.
-Facilities 2nd to none.
-Top-5 traditional program.
Has he been getting many HC'ing offers like that? ^
September 23rd, 2019 at 4:44 PM ^
His son could actually get on the field here. +
September 23rd, 2019 at 4:46 PM ^
That's your evidence that Venables wanted the TT head coach job? That Swinney said, "I just don't think the right opportunity has come along that he's wanted for whatever reason"???
That's literally the exact opposite of what you're claiming, my god. Of course he's fielded offers, probably very good ones. And he hasn't been swayed yet. My bet, he's waiting for Swinney to move on to the NFL or Alabama and take over at Clemson.
September 23rd, 2019 at 4:48 PM ^
There's an article out there somewhere where he said something along the lines of "Sure I'd absolutely be interested" if the job was offered. Then as the playoff games/signing day(s) got closer he was directly asked and said something about his son (who could actually get on the field here). Those later quotes seem to be dominating my google searches so far.
September 23rd, 2019 at 5:25 PM ^
Not the article I was looking for, but... "I talked to their AD and that's all I'll say" certainly is not "No. I'm not interested."
And it's a 5th tier job, for pete's sake. This is (or was) Michigan. Still kind of is.
“Kirby (Texas Tech AD) and I, as everybody knows, were college teammates and fellow linebackers and are very, very good friends. I talk to Kirby a lot and I’ve talked to him recently, but that’s all I’ll say,” Venables said after a long pause to collect his thoughts.
https://www.postandcourier.com/sports/clemson-s-brent-venables-tony-elliott-address-head-coaching-rumors/article_d69effd0-f1a1-11e8-942b-3f5dabe47ece.html
September 23rd, 2019 at 4:08 PM ^
Brent Venables has been on the top of every coaching search for years and he doesn't bite. By all accounts he likes Clemson, is left alone, and has an unlimited budget to do what he wants. There is no way he is leaving, at least not to go to Michigan.
September 23rd, 2019 at 4:22 PM ^
He said he would've been interested in the TT job if offered last off-season.
September 23rd, 2019 at 4:10 PM ^
That would be my first choice. Give him whatever he wants. Harbaugh has lost this team and his fire.
September 23rd, 2019 at 4:20 PM ^
Even his Khaki commercials are not so funny this year.
September 23rd, 2019 at 4:20 PM ^
All I want is a Hungry coach that has fire throughout his tenure...being successfully helps
September 23rd, 2019 at 4:28 PM ^
Trying to tell me this guy wasn't hungry? LOL
September 23rd, 2019 at 5:30 PM ^
Semantically this is correct
September 23rd, 2019 at 4:21 PM ^
Could he get the players to come north without the bag, and could he recruit Ohio. If not then it won't work.
September 23rd, 2019 at 4:24 PM ^
He seems to be able to recruit anywhere. His most relevant regional recruiting is done in the DMV region.
Can he hire guys who can recruit in Ohio, PA, etc.? I bet.
Who has Toledo's own Jim Harbaugh personally recruited out of Ohio?
September 23rd, 2019 at 4:26 PM ^
Why are you asking this?
We are going to win out from here, crush Wiscy in the Indianapolis rematch, then go to the CFP and take Venables to the woodshed ourselves.
Time to put your big boy pants on. I sure hope the team is doing better than the fanbase.
September 23rd, 2019 at 4:28 PM ^
Sort of like betting on Antonio Brown to turn his life around at this point, but sure -- I hope so too.
September 23rd, 2019 at 4:28 PM ^
Think positive, not realistic. I love it!
September 23rd, 2019 at 4:27 PM ^
Sign me up.
September 23rd, 2019 at 4:31 PM ^
He would be my choice!
September 23rd, 2019 at 4:35 PM ^
Venables tops my coaching wish list but I also have a gut feeling he ain't moving.
My wish list is as follows
- Venables - but I don't see him leaving ever
- Urban - but I don't see the whiny bitches in the AD every actually going out and getting a winner.
- Stoops - clearly young enough to want to coach still, but maybe too old to want to recruit?
Passed that, it's young OC or DC territory. The college landscape has changed and Michigan isn't what it was in 1995. The last 4 coaches have cratered the national perception of what this team and this program are. All the money in the world can't beat perception, but that is reality. Guys aren't leaving just because it's Michigan.
We would need a cut-throat young guy looking to come in and set this whole damn thing ablaze and burn out the rot and have the balls to tell the old guard to STFU and let him get to work.
Is there a guy like that out there? A Lincoln Riley disciple? A Sean McVay guy who wants to come down to the college ranks? It's pretty damn clear, in this day-and-age, you need an offensive identity and you need to score 30 a game to win. The rest is just details.
At this point though, it seems as if we are damned if we do, damned if we don't.
Harbaugh is legit garbage and has lost the team. But what non-trash options are there outside of him?
I will say this though, I will bet my last dollar that Harbaugh leaves after this season for the Dolphins or he quits for a mental health issue and reassess his options and goes back to the NFL in 2021. I guarantee he is not coming back next week. The team is even worse and the schedule is even tougher. He is too selfish to fuck his reputation up even more than he has since 2016.
So hopefully Manuel is worth a god damn and can run a football coaching search better than he can run a basketball coaching search.
September 23rd, 2019 at 4:57 PM ^
Alabama had a pretty good offense last yr. Scored 45pts against Oklahoma in the CFP. Venables held them to 16 the next wk (in a 44-16 nat championship win).
Notre Dame had a pretty good offense last yr. Venables held them to 3 pts in the CFP last yr (30-3 semi final win).
Lots of great young offensive minds out there these days... not so many that can stop them.
Venables + Elliott or Scott would be one hell of a start.
September 23rd, 2019 at 4:54 PM ^
I've said this elsewhere but I really think Bronco Mendenhall deserves a look. In fact, according to Vegas, he's the favorite (+300) to land the job should Harbaugh retire.
He's built that Virginia program from nothing to something. Their defense is astounding for the talent that they have and I expect them to continue to get better if he ends up staying there.
September 23rd, 2019 at 5:00 PM ^
Total depression. Setting in. National Championship/CFP/Elite status dreams... fading.
September 23rd, 2019 at 5:33 PM ^
September 23rd, 2019 at 5:37 PM ^
That's great that you say that. That's why I said one of Clemson's co-OC's would be a great first hire.
Oklahoma's prolific offense scored 34 pts against Bama in the CFP last yr. Clemson scored 44 against them the next wk... while also holding them to 16 and WINning the game.
September 23rd, 2019 at 6:01 PM ^
PS -- Everyone who didn't like the Venables idea.. what's your better idea?
--Should we advance medical science a couple hundred yrs, clone a genius HC, transplant his brain into Harbaugh's head and then somehow convince him to stay at UofM?
--Should we hire that Pastor/Head football coach, with tons of Head coaching experience, Michigan/Midwest/BigTen ties, championships under his belt, a roladex of former 5-star signees, Mike Leach's offensive mind, Nick Saban's defensive mind, no history of ever working for any program that has even once been rumored to cheat ever and zero interest in the NFL?
September 23rd, 2019 at 6:03 PM ^
I would like to take a chance on a young coach. Take a chance and try to find a Lincoln Riley type offensive mind
September 23rd, 2019 at 7:36 PM ^
Is that a person with a name???? your idea??
September 23rd, 2019 at 6:17 PM ^
Boy, that sure is a lot of 'probably's' and assumptions.
September 23rd, 2019 at 7:38 PM ^
Do you have a coach idea with no “probably’s and assumptions”???
You see the future 20/20??
????
some of you ppl.......... just. un. believable.
September 23rd, 2019 at 8:23 PM ^
No.
I guess is the overwhelming response.
September 23rd, 2019 at 11:25 PM ^
the overwhelming response from this fanbase is.......
”i’m not happy and i want an elite fictional coach who was raised by bo schembechler.”
this fanbase, if you haven’t noticed.. is among the very least intelligent, by and large, when it comes to football/reality.
September 23rd, 2019 at 9:47 PM ^
Seriously. Give Harbaugh a chance to fix the ship. Wait till season is over to judge. One game is not a complete body of work for the season.
September 23rd, 2019 at 11:26 PM ^
The title of the post begins *IF*, correct?
The first sentence is “i hope we turn things around”, correct?
what are you, an English major?
September 23rd, 2019 at 10:03 PM ^
Wow. This thread was interesting. I was intrigued to read it due to liking Venables as well. (Clearly not Larry liking lol). You would think if Venables wanted to be a head coach, opportunities don’t come often for top 15 programs, he would take a serious look. Not that anyone is asking, but my top 3 are Venables, Stoops, and Campbell. Bronco wouldn’t make me mad at Virginia. Turned them around.
Clearly over speculating, don’t see JH leaving. Just another mass exodus off-season with coaches coming and going.