Oklahoma Hires Venables
December 5th, 2021 at 8:30 PM ^
What Sabb!!!!
December 5th, 2021 at 8:35 PM ^
Steve Lorenz (among others) have put in new Crystal Ball picks on that young man...
December 5th, 2021 at 9:35 PM ^
When? I haven’t seen anything new since he reaffirmed his commitment recently
December 5th, 2021 at 9:50 PM ^
Lorenz put in 4 new crystal balls this afternoon but they are not public yet.
The other day Sabb posted a picture on instagram of him and another Clemson recruit with a sign that said "all in". He took that pic down today.
December 5th, 2021 at 10:10 PM ^
Ah, gotcha. Thanks
December 5th, 2021 at 8:36 PM ^
I understand some people are hopeful Sabb might flip.
Different question: If Michigan loses out on the 5* OT from Washington, are they (UM) committed to getting another OL in this class? If so, who are the plan-B guys?
December 5th, 2021 at 8:40 PM ^
Here's one they're after:
December 5th, 2021 at 9:30 PM ^
He visited but he seems like he’s all UK for whatever reason
December 5th, 2021 at 9:42 PM ^
If that kid doesn’t want to come play for this o line I don’t know what to tell him.
December 5th, 2021 at 8:35 PM ^
The carousel gets even more intriguing. What happens with Oregon if Cristobal takes the Miami job? Where does Diaz end up? He was an excellent D Coordinator and has those same Miami ties Mario has. Would Joe Brady entertain Oregon. I know Kiffin comes up but he seems to like the Florida area.
December 6th, 2021 at 6:28 AM ^
But was he (Diaz)? He was OK, and I know those weren't classic teams he was the DC of, but I dont think they were that good.
December 6th, 2021 at 8:19 AM ^
I could be wrong but my understanding is that Joe Brady hates and wants no part in recruiting, so I’m not sure the college game is really where he wants to be. At least not if his role has recruiting responsibilities attached to it, which it almost certainly would.
But if that’s the case then he’s probably going to have to take a demotion to stay in the league. I doubt anyone else will want him as their OC right now, so he’d likely have to be a position coach for a year or two and get results before someone called his name again for an OC job.
December 5th, 2021 at 8:36 PM ^
So clemson's run is officially dead and gone forever.
December 5th, 2021 at 8:38 PM ^
Looks like it, unless Dabo can find a equal DC and another generational talent at QB
December 5th, 2021 at 8:44 PM ^
Sounds like they could lose OC Elliot too.
December 5th, 2021 at 9:08 PM ^
Hope so, Dabo seems like an ass.
December 5th, 2021 at 9:49 PM ^
Dabo is as fake as they come. He's the Joel Osteen of college football
December 5th, 2021 at 11:19 PM ^
Logic check: I don’t think Dabo believes he is Jesus. And Dabo has a lot more than 600K behind his shitter.
December 6th, 2021 at 6:25 AM ^
Their OC Tony Elliot is a candidate for the HC at Duke and Virginia also
December 5th, 2021 at 8:36 PM ^
Well, the usual playoff of Bama, OSU, Clemson and Oklahoma is probably no more.
If we can get more consistently competitive with OSU in recruiting and performance, the B1G will have a bit more parity - at least a big 2.
Clemson looks on the downtrend, losing a coaching anchor in Venables, and Miami should be legit competition for them sooner rather than later with the hire of Cristobal.
Oklahoma's annual spot will probably now be filled by USC as Riley moves to a weak Pac 10 and Oklahoma goes to the brutal SEC without a proven head coach or staff.
Unfortunately, Bama will be Bama until Saban retires - as Kirby can bag and recruit like his mentor, but doesn't seem to be able to beat him on game day.
December 5th, 2021 at 9:02 PM ^
I’m not sold on Miami. There seems to be a disconnect with that football program and maybe the university. It doesn’t help when your stadium isn’t even on campus and you can’t get half attendance at the games. Everyone thought Diaz was the savior there too. Diaz was the same hometown guy that was supposed to restore the program and he’s ousted in three years?
December 5th, 2021 at 9:29 PM ^
I recall hearing Miami does not have very good facilities. 247 sports has a ranking of top 25 facilities, Miami does not make the list, Michigan comes in at number 15. I remember Miami being really good in the 80's but I'm pessimistic on their chances of becoming a regular top ten team anytime soon.
December 5th, 2021 at 9:31 PM ^
We are number 15? Damn we’ve spent a boatload on facilities!
December 5th, 2021 at 10:34 PM ^
It's probably because we don't have waterfalls, putt putt, a bowling alley, and whatever else the SEC does for their professional, I mean, student athletes.
December 5th, 2021 at 10:33 PM ^
I think the B1G gets back closer to the Big Two if what happened this year can be sustained and we can get recruiting back to top 10. PSU and MSU will only be good for upset specials but will still find ways to lose to Purdue, etc.
December 6th, 2021 at 2:41 PM ^
Yep.
For usual playoff suspects:
After 2 years I think you'll probably see USC coming out of the PAC most every year. No reason they shouldn't, with Riley quickly amassing crazy talent and Cristobal leaving Oregon
One or both of Bama/Georgia for the forseeable future in the SEC
UM/OSU with a sprinkle of MSU/PSU in Big 10
You have to think Cincy will be in the mix in too - as long as Fickell stays anyways. Joining the Big 12 as OU and Texas leave is good for them for sure.
December 5th, 2021 at 8:40 PM ^
That's cool Venables is returning to a program and region where he has a lot of solid ties.
However, I think his timing is terrible since Oklahoma is going to follow Texas into the SEC. I think the Sooners are going to learn some hard lessons about the level of defensive play required to succeed in the SEC.
December 5th, 2021 at 8:53 PM ^
Perhaps that's why they hired one of the best DC's in the game as their new HC? Just spitballing here.
December 5th, 2021 at 9:32 PM ^
Maybe the best DC in the college game - certainly top 2 or 3
December 5th, 2021 at 11:50 PM ^
How soon we forget DON BROWN!!!
December 6th, 2021 at 8:24 AM ^
Which I think is why they hired Venables. Proven to be one of the best DCs in America, and you need defense to succeed in the SEC. If Venables can find a great OC, then they’re in business.
Texas should be the one that’s concerned. Sark seems to be building a good offense but if they can’t play defense they’re not going to win squat with him after they move.
December 5th, 2021 at 8:41 PM ^
Outside of Alabama--There is no one team or program under which Michigan should be the shadow or in any way fear.
USC has floundered for a long time, now. Oklahoma really wasn't getting it done under Riley--playoffs yes, but never winning.
Georgia was just shown the door by Alabama.
Michigan just trashed Ohio State.
The time is now for Harbaugh and Co.
December 5th, 2021 at 9:12 PM ^
This is so true. Other than Alabama, we are the only playoff team with elite talent and coaching stability. Feels amazing to say that but Alabama shows what can happen with those qualities (and a few bag men). The coaching carousel puts us in amazing position if we can take advantage of it.
December 5th, 2021 at 10:05 PM ^
Georgia had elite talent and coaching stability.
December 5th, 2021 at 10:33 PM ^
Only elite defensive talent. Offensive skill positions are good but not elite.
December 5th, 2021 at 10:59 PM ^
Is Kirby really elite?
December 5th, 2021 at 11:33 PM ^
What? Their RBs are outstanding. Their TE is going to give us fits. Kirby knows how to study tape, and when Iowa was piling up yardage so easily with misdirection plays he won’t miss that lesson.
UGa has been missing its best WR all season. They don’t have OSU’s big three, but let’s not pretend they’re Iowa-level scrubs either.
December 5th, 2021 at 11:25 PM ^
Saban really built that program by being the first coach to stretch/ignore the rules for over signing. Yes, he's a good coach, but it was getting an extra class worth of players every year to pick and choose from that carried him to the peak.
December 5th, 2021 at 9:22 PM ^
I honestly believe this is why the SEC, media and NCAA made every turn for Harbaugh difficult since he came back. I genuinely think they’ve felt a fear of what Michigan could become under Jim. The satellite camps, one time transfer rules, nil, student trips, etc. Jim was the one pushing these things for the total student athlete experience, not only for the elite kids but the ones who don’t get the exposure. I hope the giant is awake now and they have to fear Michigan as the new major threat to them all.
December 5th, 2021 at 9:57 PM ^
I don't think they had any fear about it, per se. But they certainly didn't want some interloper coming in and upsetting the status quo - especially the recruiting 'territories'. Maybe the camps would have exposed the better ways of providing a bag service for those northern schools that otherwise don't understand it so well?
But yeah, Pete Finebaum mentioned most of the things you stated this morning, before the playoff show. He called it all "showboating" by Harbaugh, and was happy that he 'stopped' all of it. What an asshat.
December 5th, 2021 at 10:13 PM ^
I don’t think Saban had fear but I think the SEC and media did have it. Maybe not fear but they had some reservation with what abilities a born winner at every level was gonna do to the south to an extent. If he keeps this momentum it may turn into actual fear for them. His comments about it were pathetic. Other coaches are out for paycheck and status and Harbaugh is all about the kids.
December 5th, 2021 at 10:59 PM ^
I think Harbaugh should do the satellite camps
tell everyone to buzz off
December 5th, 2021 at 8:56 PM ^
Their last coach who won a national championship as DC did pretty alright. Good hire
December 5th, 2021 at 9:42 PM ^
So he's finally leaving Clemson? I didn't think we'd ever see that, he seemed plenty comfortable. Maybe it was just the job he was waiting on...
December 5th, 2021 at 10:30 PM ^
Good hire - he had his choice of jobs - now he needs a great OC to keep Okie in moving the ball. He has a frosh QB who showed flashes and then made the usual mistakes of any new guy.