Venables is (probably not) coming to Arkansas

[hogmolar]

He also said we will have the best special teams unit in the country.  Come on down Coach Belichick.  Nothing Coach Morris said told them Venables is coming.  I would hope that who he hires he feels is one of the best in the country, if not then why hire him?     

[The real Hogules]

Not irritated.  Usually a person will start attempting to sling insults when they get irritated.  A-Hole is my nickname. Ask my wife.  😘

lol

[Smithian]

I heard that answer as Chad Morris will make Venables say no.

Have to make the phone call if there is even a fraction of a chance.

[RME]

Can't watch. What did he say?

Essentially said "Swinney wouldn't like that," "doesn't wanna disclose names now," "has a shortlist of candidates that he's played against and some that he's admired from afar."

I interpreted it as though he clearly has a list of guys he wants and Venables isn't on that list.

But, then again, coachspeak and all.

[OkieBack]

I heard that answer as Chad Morris will make Venables say no.

Have to make the phone call if there is even a fraction of a chance.

Wow. Deja vu. 

[Redhogs]

I hope he has better sense than this..

This..not a nice man from all accounts you read.

[Hog on Beale]

He said Swinney wouldn't like it if he stole Venables.  And said he had a short list of candidates, some that he's played against and been around.

Clearly he's referring to the Memphis DC.  I kid.  Hopefully he's referring to DC's he faced while at Clemson and not while at SMU.

[TuckFexas81]

My source is someone on the team.  Coach Morris told the team yesterday, "THE best defensive coordinator in the country is coming here."  Only one person that could be... 

Everybody in the state knows this if they watched his team meeting video.

[Hoggish1]

I'm as skeptical as the next person about Venables coming here and wont believe it until it happens. Although I am not going to get my hopes up with this one. Just cant see something so outrageous like this happening. We NEVER get great news like this anyways.

Are you sure you want to say never about this?  that's a very strong word and it lasts forever...

[Hog on Beale]

I heard that answer as Chad Morris will make Venables say no.

Have to make the phone call if there is even a fraction of a chance.

I agree.  Hopefully Morris wasn't serious when he said Dabo wouldn't be happy if he hired Venables. You've GOT to offer Venables a ton of money and make him turn it down.  He's clearly had opportunities to be a HC and hasn't went that route yet.  Maybe he wants a new challenge?  Maybe he wants a chance to scheme against SEC offenses?  Who knows.  Obviously it's not likely for him to come, but you'll never know if you don't offer him.     

[OneLardAlmighty]

Essentially said "Swinney wouldn't like that," "doesn't wanna disclose names now," "has a shortlist of candidates that he's played against and some that he's admired from afar."

I interpreted it as though he clearly has a list of guys he wants and Venables isn't on that list.

But, then again, coachspeak and all.

It did sound that way.  But mostly he just seemed really uncomfortable with the question, either because he knows that's a hope and expectation that's going around that he can't meet or because he's working on it and doesn't want to discuss it.

[hawkhawg]

My source is someone on the team.  Coach Morris told the team yesterday, "THE best defensive coordinator in the country is coming here."  Only one person that could be... 

He is hiring Wade Phillips?

[Dillar Dog]

He is hiring Wade Phillips?

Rob Ryan

[311Hog]

Essentially said "Swinney wouldn't like that," "doesn't wanna disclose names now," "has a shortlist of candidates that he's played against and some that he's admired from afar."

I interpreted it as though he clearly has a list of guys he wants and Venables isn't on that list.

But, then again, coachspeak and all.

I am sure Dabo wouldn't like if Venables left, but i think he was saying Dabo wouldn't like him naming Venables publicly with Clemson being in the playoff hunt (making distractions).

Morris and Dabo are friends to so he is not going to make problems for him while they are on this run especially if he doesn't have to.

[Michaelt]

It did sound that way.  But mostly he just seemed really uncomfortable with the question, either because he knows that's a hope and expectation that's going around that he can't meet or because he's working on it and doesn't want to discuss it.

I got that feeling from his answer as well.

[Hog Spread]

I'm poppin bottles bawz!

+1

[King Kong]

Bud Foster?

If we are talking about 2 mill for a DC he should be included. Would be an amazing hire

Seriously don't see him coming been at Va Tech forever

[Grunt]

What's he supposed to say? "We're gonna have the 3rd best defensive coordinator in the country!"

He could have said nothing at all about the D.C. so the statement is significant.

[OtterHog]

What is Willy Robinson up to?

[HF#1]

What is Willy Robinson up to?

He's like 85 years old and super crusty now.

[VBMark]

My source is someone on the team.  Coach Morris told the team yesterday, "THE best defensive coordinator in the country is coming here."  Only one person that could be... 

Dick Lebeau is coming?! He said "best ...in country..." ;-)

[HogNTX]

Can we delete this thread? The only way - and it's a pipe dream at that - that we get Venables is if we prevent this becoming a distraction to his current team.

If we have a completed staff sans a DC within the next few weeks, it should be clear we are waiting for someone. Venables spoke at length about a previous experience where there were rumors of a coach leaving and his team didn't perform well and said it has disgusted/haunted him ever since. He vowed to never do that to his team moving forward.

Similarly both FOTH and a media member told us explicitly to quit talking about Venables for now and to wait patiently...

Absolutley... delete the thread (but yes thank you Cattle Corn) and keep it quiet... WAIT and see

[redeye]

I find it interesting that he'd say he would bring the best DC in the country.  He knows Venables better than any of us, but was he talking a out his good friend?  Maybe he's been promised money to grab the best DC he can find?

[AHorseWithNoName]

What if Venables is tired of Swinney? 

[searkhogfan]

Maybe this high flying offense needs a high flying defense.  And he's hiring Dave Womack to bring the vaunted Land Shark D to Arkansas.   

[jkstock04]

He said Swinney wouldn't like it if he stole Venables. And said he had a short list of candidates, some that he's played against and been around.

That's not what he said. This is exactly how crazy rumors get started. Man o man.

[Dwight_K_Shrute]

While it would be awesome if during his PC he gets asked about his DC and then all of the sudden you hear glass breaking sound effect and Jim Ross says, Oh My Gawd that's Brent Venables music.

[Razor1997]

I heard that answer as Chad Morris will make Venables say no.

Have to make the phone call if there is even a fraction of a chance.

At worst, maybe we can bankrupt Clemson like we bankrupted Auburn.

[Hogwild]

Bud Foster?

No Chance, he not leaving VA Tech for Arkansas.  He has turned down better coaches.

[hogfan1003]

Monte Kiffin

[ballz2thewall]

wasn't kevin steele at auburn when morris took over as OC? [Edit: at clemson].

thinking out loud.......

[gustofwind]

Coach Morris may consider Todd Graham the best

If that's the case, then we are in serious trouble.  Graham has only had 2 defenses in his career that ranged better than 60.

[ricepig]

What's he supposed to say? "We're gonna have the 3rd best defensive coordinator in the country!"

We could be so lucky........

[The Kig]

Morris and Dabo are friends to so he is not going to make problems for him while they are on this run especially if he doesn't have to.

Exactly why I don't think he would poach his staff.  Both guys know how valuable Venables is to Clemson.  Dabo was realistically his first major shot (sorry Tulsa, you don't count) and I seriously doubt he's gonna show his loyalty that way. 

Same reason I tend to think our new DC could be Graham.  Guy was turning the ship around at AZ ST (finished 2ND in their division this year) and they fired him.  He is supposed to coach in their bowl game, but since he was the first guy to give Morris a college level job, I think he has to be on Morris short list. 

One other thing that may change that...Morris said he wants a guy who has SEC experience,  which wouldn't be either of those guys.  So, go figure.

[311Hog]

Exactly why I don't think he would poach his staff.  Both guys know how valuable Venables is to Clemson.  Dabo was realistically his first major shot (sorry Tulsa, you don't count) and I seriously doubt he's gonna show his loyalty that way. 

Same reason I tend to think our new DC could be Graham.  Guy was turning the ship around at AZ ST (finished 2ND in their division this year) and they fired him.  He is supposed to coach in their bowl game, but since he was the first guy to give Morris a college level job, I think he has to be on Morris short list. 

One other thing that may change that...Morris said he wants a guy who has SEC experience,  which wouldn't be either of those guys.  So, go figure.

i could see this angle, mine was just that he didn't want to distract Venables during the season, but after the season was over sure.

This choice and how it plays out will be defining for sure.  Our defense won't have to be perfect IMHO but much better than it is now.

[010HogFan]

I am sure Dabo wouldn't like if Venables left, but i think he was saying Dabo wouldn't like him naming Venables publicly with Clemson being in the playoff hunt (making distractions).

Morris and Dabo are friends to so he is not going to make problems for him while they are on this run especially if he doesn't have to.

Most reasonable post in the whole thread.

[The Kig]

i could see this angle, mine was just that he didn't want to distract Venables during the season, but after the season was over sure.

This choice and how it plays out will be defining for sure.  Our defense won't have to be perfect IMHO but much better than it is now.

Cautiously state that I don't see any way our defense could be worse, but I said that  at the beginning of each of the last 2 years. 

Still not sure what happened (other than just not having talent) with the Defense the last 3 years.  Historically bad and got worse each year.  Really thought (and still do) that Rhoads was a solid defensive coach.   

[zuko]

Through all of this, we were 100 percent wrong on who the AD was going to be and although Morris was in the mix for Coach all along, he was not the favorite pick for that job. So, there will be no further speculation on my part about any choices for the assistants. The only thing I will say is that there would be only one reason Venables would come to Arkansas and that's the challenge and it certainly will
be that. Certainly, he has proven that he is among the best if not the best DC in college football and certainly is a candidate for a DC job in the Pros. That is as far as I will speculate on any future moves made by the Razorbacks football program.

[zuko]

The word poaching appears when it comes to Venables being mentioned coming to Arkansas. Poaching is part of the game and why not poach if it makes you team better and the Poachee wants to come. In the end, Venables will make his own decision on where to go and Dabo won't have a thing to say about it.

[Pig in the Pokey]

If we are talking about 2 mill for a DC he should be included. Would be an amazing hire

Seriously don't see him coming been at Va Tech forever

bud foster would be THE homerun hire after BV

[The real Hogules]

bud foster would be THE homerun hire after BV

I'd prefer Foster, to Venables, but would faint if either one came walking through that press conference door!

[HogKong]

Here's the situation and the only real possible way BV would come here. He clearly wants to be a HC at some point when the right opportunity comes around. I can see him possibly wanting to come to Arkansas with CCM in order to watch, learn, and see how/what it's like to go through the rebuilding process and to learn from CCM in doing so since they are good friends and he can then take that experience with him in 1-2 years when that position comes available.

This is the only logical reason I can see him wanting to make the move.....and I would also suggest that if that is the case there is a very good chance he could come.