Clemson football defensive coordinator Brent Venables confirmed that Arkansas at least had interest in pursuing him as their next head coach.
Clemson football defensive coordinator Brent Venables confirmed that Arkansas does has interest in him as their next head coach.
Now, whether or not he has interest back is another story.
Here is what Venables had to say on Bo Mattingly’s radio talk show earlier today.
We asked Brent Venables if he's a candidate for the Arkansas job. Here's his response: pic.twitter.com/JsytaCUkc7
— Bo Mattingly (@SportandStoryBo) December 4, 2017
Venables confirmed that he hasn’t talked to anyone, but that his representatives have been contacted.
Venables went on to say what he would look for in a job.
Venables on what he looks for in a job: You want to see alignment from the top down. And you want places where you have a chance to be successful.
— Bo Mattingly (@SportandStoryBo) December 4, 2017
But he did make mention of the fact that he’s had an opportunity to be a head coach for quite some time and his “moral compass” has always pointed him back to Clemson football.
Venables: I’ve had opportunities to be a head coach throughout my career and as recently as last week, but my moral compass has told me to be loyal to where I am.
— Bo Mattingly (@SportandStoryBo) December 4, 2017
Thoughts:
Look, it’s tough to know what exactly to make of this. In my opinion, I think he was politely turning the offer down.
He’s in Arkansas on a radio show that thousands of people listen to.
It seems to me that his representatives talked to Arkansas and then he turned them down. There would be no reason for him to come out and say that. I mean, why would he want to embarrass the program?
Then again, it very well may be that he does have some interest in pursuing the Arkansas job. If he does, you can’t blame him either as he has earned the right to do so.
Next: Skip Bayless wants Alabama to beat Clemson
At this point, I would tend to think that it would take a lot to pull him away from Clemson. Could it happen? Yes.
But I don’t think Tiger Nation needs to panic just yet.