Monday January 16, 2012

The DC Search

The DC Search
With Clemson in the market for a defensive coordinator I called and texted several coaches and former coaches this weekend to get their take on how this happens and what could happen this week.

I want to thank these men for taking time out their schedule to respond. I think everyone can understand they each did not want their names released and would not comment if they thought that would happen. I am still waiting on other responses from other coaches.

Here are some of the phone comments and texts I received on the search:

What do you know about Brent Venables?

"I have limited first hand knowledge of him as a coach and have rarely matched up against his defenses, " said one coach. "But I thought he put together a good plan. Lets be honest and say that he had some damn good football players executing that game plan too."

Another coach added, "I have met him several times and he comes across as an intense guy. He gets after it on the practice field. He is a high energy guy."

Do you think Clemson has a realistic chance at getting him away from Oklahoma?

"I have been in this business long enough to not be surprised too often, " a coach answered. "I don't know Brent's family situation. Is his wife happy there? Does he have kids? I think he would have to look at it from two different directions.

First, he has stability at his current place. I mean he has been there for what 13, 14, 15 years? I get the sense that he is popular there. From what you are telling me his head coach still wants to keep him there, so its not like he has been told to look around. You know sometimes in this business we think the grass is always greener. I have worked with guys that look around and know they are chasing the next job.

But on the other hand it is sometimes a disadvantage to stay at one place too long. If he has been there 15 years and he is still not a head coach then he may want to look elsewhere. What else can he do at his current place? If he took another job at another school in another part of the country then he gets his name out there in two places.

Lets say he does a great job at Clemson. Then the next time the NC State job or the Maryland job comes open then he has a better shot than he would at Oklahoma because he has more exposure there now. Plus he can still get the midwest job because he will still be remembered there.

Something he might ask is why did I not get the Kansas job. I am not sure he wanted it but if he did then what else could he do at Oklahoma to impress Kansas. Man they have killed them for years."

One coach added, "It really just depends on what he is looking for at this stage of his career. Sometimes it is about timing. I have seen guys turn a job one year and take it the next time it opened. Its just about timing. You know we never really know how happy a guy and his family are anywhere."

Could he just be using Clemson to get more money out of Oklahoma?

"Maybe. Maybe he has no intentions of leaving Norman. But he had that leverage when West Virginia called. My gut says that he is not using Clemson to get at Oklahoma for money. If you are telling me that his wife made the trip then I can almost promise you that this is serious. I have never seen the wife come just to play the game. Mine wouldn't do that."

One coach responded, "You see I don't think this one is about money. You don't think Oklahoma can match Clemson's money? My guess is that this is about status and Mike Stoops coming back to Norman or its about an opportunity to advance his career to be a head coach.

I don't know him well but if he wants to be a head coach many in our field would advise him to get experience at another school in another conference. Make contacts at another place. You never know who the next decision maker that may be watching him.

I would think he and your guy have been in constant contact and doubt he could go that far if he didn't have genuine interest. I am not saying he would take it but I doubt it would have gotten this far if he was just playing Oklahoma. Does he have a history of doing that? I haven't heard that."

What do know know about Randy Shannon?
"I have coached against him and met him many times. Randy is a great guy. He has a great story. From a resume standpoint, who has had better defenses than him? Clemson could do a lot worse than Randy Shannon or Brent Venables.

Randy is a solid guy and a solid football coach. His experience as a head coach would help him too. The only thing I would want to know is how interested is he in getting back in this thing? What are his goals? Does he want to be a head coach again?"

Who would you hire if both wanted it Venables or Shannon?
Ah man. That ain't fair. I don't know what your guy is looking for. They are both different personalities and are from different backgrounds. It totally depends on what your guy is looking for. I will help you with this, either guy could have almost any job that comes open. Man we are talking about two of the top names in the business but I guess if you are gonna pay the kind of money I have read then they can get almost anyone they want. Are they gonna invest $2 million dollars in their two coordinators? If that is the case then there are a lot of guys that would love to double or triple their salaries. Clemson is a great place to raise a family but it ain't for everyone. But believe me if you tell your wife we are moving to Clemson and making $800,000 then she will really like it there."

"I would get back in it for that kind of money," a former coach joked. "I don't want to tell you how much I made in my day. Can you get me an interview?"

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Prayer List
We have started a prayer list on the blog. Here are the guidelines:

If you are offended by prayer or prayer lists then I apologize in advance. The blog is free and the prayer list will be on the bottom of the page so you don’t have to read it.

If you would like to add someone to the list please e-mail me at mickeyplyler@hotmail.com

*Please let me know when it is appropriate to take the person off of the prayer list.

Those who need our prayers include:Finn Brookover, Mary-Louise Pawlowski (John's daughter), Jo Ann Bachman, Kenneth Bryant, Pruitt Martin, Got igers and his family, David Rowland, Leonard, Gillespie and his family, Jim S, Daniel Rosborough, The Huffman family, Nancy Winkler, John Reeve, Ethel Southard, Vinnie Brock, Kaitlyn L, Susan Miller, Joyce Harley, Steve Proveaux, Jeffrey Greene, the Hutto family, Sherl Drawdy, Caleb Kennedy, Teresa O'Connor, Matt Jacobs,Perrin Seigler, Candee Massee, Lindsey Jordan, Sam Catoe, Tyler Felch, the Nicolopulos family, "the Jacksonville, FL guys", Kim Sims, the Coyle family, Ryleigh Tedder, Steve Lee, Kelly Trakas, Jimmy Moore, the Thomas. V Family, Emary Claire Young, Kitty Bowers,Julie and motivateLocke, the Scheider family, Lauren Kittles' family, Frank Gentry, Joyce Bussey, Stacey McKeown, Mary Priester, Dale Childs, Larry Lentz, Jr, Carl Sharperson, Scott Hannon, William Perry, Tyler Swaney, Randy Anderson, Lillian, Matt Hogan, Mark Feit, David Frame, Chad Berry, the family of Matthew M. Watson, Nancy Taylor, the Dowis family, Shervin Messer, Alan Putnam, the Olivers, Lee Tate, Ronnie Abrams, Eddie Greene, Tricia Hood, the Jackson family, Bill Vader, Nancy Taylor, Tina DeWitt, Rock Horne, Christopher Tuten, Jimmy Head, Bobby Wayne Thomas, Emma and Danielle Carothers, Robert Ditty, Murray Smith, Dot Cartee, Ayden Mills, Millie Heatley, Lynn Martin and family, Michael Pinson, Jack Bailey, Jake David family, Janice Thompson, Angie Crowley, Rachel Graves, Ira, Elsie Taylor, Mike Tolson, Poly Wells, Dr. Muriel Bishop, Jack Cunningham, Emily Jefford Meister.