Source: OU's Venables in talks with Clemson
BY DAVE SITTLER World Sports Writer
Saturday, January 14, 2012
Sources close to the Oklahoma football program said it’s believed that defensive coordinator Brent Venables was at Clemson University on Saturday to discuss a job with the Tigers.
Clemson is looking for a new D-coordinator after Kevin Steele was fired following the Tigers’ 70-33 loss to West Virginia in the Orange Bowl.
Those OU sources said they believe the Clemson job is there for Venables to accept or turn down. Instead of an interview, Clemson officials were reportedly trying to convince Venables to take the job.
“He is visiting with them,” a source said. “He’s not interviewing. They’re trying to get him.”
The sources couldn’t confirm reports that also had Venables meeting Friday night in San Antonio with Clemson coach Dabo Swinney before flying to the school Saturday.
It is known that Venables left Norman on Friday afternoon on what coach Bob Stoops said was a recruiting trip.
Sources confirmed earlier in the week that Venables was also offered the D-coordinator’s job at West Virginia. But he removed his name out of consideration for the position on Friday.
Clemson reportedly could at least double the salary for Venables, who was paid $440,000 this past season, his 13th at OU.
A source close to Venables told the Tulsa World on Friday that he hoped to make a final decision on his future by “Sunday or so.”
Associated Images:
OU defensive coordinator Brent Venables is in talks with Clemson for a similar position with the Tigers. He turned down a similar job at West Virginia earlier, a source said. STEPHEN PINGRY/Tulsa World
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