Oklahoma coach Brent Venables visits Clemson to catch up, watch son

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Oklahoma coach Brent Venables is still a beloved figure in Clemson. His being on the sideline Saturday for the Tigers' game against Florida State went over quite well.

Venables won two national championships, in 2016 and 2018, during his team with the Tigers as defensive coordinator. Coach Dabo Swinney was pleased to have his friend and former colleague, completing his outfit with a Clemson hat, back in town.

"Yeah, I looked up and I was, like, there's Brent. Gave him a sideline pass. Went over and I said 'What do you think they're going to call right here on 2nd-and-14?' He's like 'Probably a screen or draw,' Swinney said in his best exaggerated Venables impersonation.

Oklahoma went through its final bye week, allowing Venables, now in his fourth season as Sooners head man, to visit Clemson, where his son Tyler plays safety for the Tigers. Clemson ultimately dispatched Florida State, 24-10, in handing the Seminoles their fifth loss in their last six games.

The elder Venables served as Swinney's defensive coordinator from 2012 to 2021. In his last six seasons, Venables led the Tigers' defense to top-10 finishes in total defense five times. In the other season, Clemson ranked 15th, even. Besides the two national titles, Clemson went to the national championship game two other times while Venables was on staff. Those results led to his re-hiring at Oklahoma, where he took over for Lincoln Riley after Riley left for Southern California.

Oklahoma will get set for its stretch run for the final three games of the regular season, starting Saturday when the Sooners travel to Alabama.

This article originally appeared on Sooners Wire: Clemson coach Dabo Swinney welcomed back Brent Venables with open arms

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