UPDATE: 3:11p - I don't want to write this (this is Carey). I can't believe what I'm about to write. And I don't want to do it. But all of us have been hearing some rumblings that none of us believe. It's too crazy to believe. But we keep hearing it. And the joke starts like this...
What if Brent Venables is coaching at the University of Oklahoma next year.
But what if he is the defensive coordinator?
I'm not saying this is who it is. Don't go around the Internet telling people we're reporting this is the leading candidate.
But spend some time telling yourself Dabo Swinney is a potential hire for Oklahoma.
People would say we're crazy. And maybe we are. But something weird is happening. And Dabo Swinney's name coming up is what has us weirded out.
Venables at DC? Is Bob coming back to be head coach with Jeff Lebby as OC?
I did reach out and asked people about the possibility. After our Clemson guys stopped laughing at me, they told me Dabo just built a new 20,000 sq/ft house and Clemson would match $15 mil a year if OU wanted to steal him.
I reached out to someone else in the profession and they told me that Georgia has killed off Clemson's pipeline to recruits. It's possible Dabo sees what is happening and could be looking for a new start elsewhere.
I'm not super high on this theory. Swinney's buyout is somewhere near $10 million. But we've heard it enough in bits and pieces that we would add it to the pile.
If Venables is OU's DC next year, I'd almost be willing to set sail with the theory that Bob could be the coach and he'd bring in Jeff Lebby as his OC and keep Caleb Williams in tow.
I will go die of embarrassment now. I don't feel good about any of what I've just typed.
UPDATE: 2:28p - Surprise, surprise, Bruce Feldman is faster than me.
It sounds like it will NOT be Matt Rhule as I had been thinking in the last update. Not sure where things changed but I admit all signs were pointing in that direction.
Now one has to think it's Brent Venables and that's the smart bet at this point but there's still some buzz about a few names - one of which is so absurd I'll mention at a later date.
UPDATE: 12:49p - I'll be honest guys, I'm just kind of sitting here waiting to hear that it has happened, it feels that close at the moment. Every time my phone goes off I kind of think 'there it is'.
I've heard talk of executive session and an emergency Board of Regents meeting and that an announcement could come at tonight's basketball game.
I'm starting to lean very hard in the direction of Matt Rhule but I wouldn't say I've got enough to go all in on that idea just yet.
UPDATE: 9:58a - OK all I think I'm finally confident in who the 'other candidate' is.
I've talked to 3 different sources this morning and have been told there is one candidate, that no one has mentioned more than peripherally, who is pushing hard for the job.
That candidate?
Carolina Panthers head coach Matt Rhule.
I'm told Rhule is very interested in the job and interestingly he shares representation with both Lincoln Riley and Brian Kelly. Perhaps his agent is ready to shake college football up a third time?
And for those asking, I'm told that Rhule has made some hints that he'd bring Joe Brady to Norman with him.
For those that don't see the immediate significance? Caleb Williams was going to commit to LSU before Brady followed Rhule to Carolina two years ago.
My personal take? This could be the guy, it adds up a few different ways but again I'm not making my pick just that I think there is real substance to this.
ORIGINAL: Alright guys, my phone (and that of the entire staff) basically just ring all the time right now but one of the most enlightening conversations I've had happened before the sun came up this morning.
For a few days now I've talked about having some questions about just how interested Brent Venables might be in the head coaching position at Oklahoma.
Well after my conversation this morning I no longer think that's in any question. In speaking to one source with knowledge I was told that Venables has, very recently, acknowledged that Oklahoma is 'the job I've always wanted'.
That adds up as Venables and Kansas State never have seemed likely and there are at least 11 reports, and or rumors, of him turning down various other head coaching opportunities.
That said the source I spoke with acknowledged that Oklahoma isn't speaking only to Venables, as of yesterday.
That's where it gets interesting as it feels like there have been three possibilities emerge in the last 12 hours.
Venables, Dan Lanning, the Georgia defensive coordinator, and 'someone else'. I hate to be that vague on the last one but it really does feel like there's a surprise behind door No. 3 that Oklahoma is taking a look at and I won't throw out a name just to say I did. Again, I know it's vague but just want you all to know what things sound like.
Now as for Lanning, I've heard some various stuff on him and how ready he is but I've talked to two people in the last 24 hours that think he is an absolute superstar in the making.
"With his connections in Kansas City (where Lanning grew up) and obvious SEC ties, he just makes a ton of sense. I could make a case for him ahead of Venables, honestly," one source said.
We're still checking around some more but I wanted to give you what I've got for now.
I will also say there is considerable chatter that something could/will happen today. I don't KNOW that as a fact but it's definitely possible as more and more wide-ranging sources are kind of pointing in that direction.
Going to be a fun day...
What if Brent Venables is coaching at the University of Oklahoma next year.
But what if he is the defensive coordinator?
I'm not saying this is who it is. Don't go around the Internet telling people we're reporting this is the leading candidate.
But spend some time telling yourself Dabo Swinney is a potential hire for Oklahoma.
People would say we're crazy. And maybe we are. But something weird is happening. And Dabo Swinney's name coming up is what has us weirded out.
Venables at DC? Is Bob coming back to be head coach with Jeff Lebby as OC?
I did reach out and asked people about the possibility. After our Clemson guys stopped laughing at me, they told me Dabo just built a new 20,000 sq/ft house and Clemson would match $15 mil a year if OU wanted to steal him.
I reached out to someone else in the profession and they told me that Georgia has killed off Clemson's pipeline to recruits. It's possible Dabo sees what is happening and could be looking for a new start elsewhere.
I'm not super high on this theory. Swinney's buyout is somewhere near $10 million. But we've heard it enough in bits and pieces that we would add it to the pile.
If Venables is OU's DC next year, I'd almost be willing to set sail with the theory that Bob could be the coach and he'd bring in Jeff Lebby as his OC and keep Caleb Williams in tow.
I will go die of embarrassment now. I don't feel good about any of what I've just typed.
UPDATE: 2:28p - Surprise, surprise, Bruce Feldman is faster than me.
It sounds like it will NOT be Matt Rhule as I had been thinking in the last update. Not sure where things changed but I admit all signs were pointing in that direction.
Now one has to think it's Brent Venables and that's the smart bet at this point but there's still some buzz about a few names - one of which is so absurd I'll mention at a later date.
UPDATE: 12:49p - I'll be honest guys, I'm just kind of sitting here waiting to hear that it has happened, it feels that close at the moment. Every time my phone goes off I kind of think 'there it is'.
I've heard talk of executive session and an emergency Board of Regents meeting and that an announcement could come at tonight's basketball game.
I'm starting to lean very hard in the direction of Matt Rhule but I wouldn't say I've got enough to go all in on that idea just yet.
UPDATE: 9:58a - OK all I think I'm finally confident in who the 'other candidate' is.
I've talked to 3 different sources this morning and have been told there is one candidate, that no one has mentioned more than peripherally, who is pushing hard for the job.
That candidate?
Carolina Panthers head coach Matt Rhule.
I'm told Rhule is very interested in the job and interestingly he shares representation with both Lincoln Riley and Brian Kelly. Perhaps his agent is ready to shake college football up a third time?
And for those asking, I'm told that Rhule has made some hints that he'd bring Joe Brady to Norman with him.
For those that don't see the immediate significance? Caleb Williams was going to commit to LSU before Brady followed Rhule to Carolina two years ago.
My personal take? This could be the guy, it adds up a few different ways but again I'm not making my pick just that I think there is real substance to this.
ORIGINAL: Alright guys, my phone (and that of the entire staff) basically just ring all the time right now but one of the most enlightening conversations I've had happened before the sun came up this morning.
For a few days now I've talked about having some questions about just how interested Brent Venables might be in the head coaching position at Oklahoma.
Well after my conversation this morning I no longer think that's in any question. In speaking to one source with knowledge I was told that Venables has, very recently, acknowledged that Oklahoma is 'the job I've always wanted'.
That adds up as Venables and Kansas State never have seemed likely and there are at least 11 reports, and or rumors, of him turning down various other head coaching opportunities.
That said the source I spoke with acknowledged that Oklahoma isn't speaking only to Venables, as of yesterday.
That's where it gets interesting as it feels like there have been three possibilities emerge in the last 12 hours.
Venables, Dan Lanning, the Georgia defensive coordinator, and 'someone else'. I hate to be that vague on the last one but it really does feel like there's a surprise behind door No. 3 that Oklahoma is taking a look at and I won't throw out a name just to say I did. Again, I know it's vague but just want you all to know what things sound like.
Now as for Lanning, I've heard some various stuff on him and how ready he is but I've talked to two people in the last 24 hours that think he is an absolute superstar in the making.
"With his connections in Kansas City (where Lanning grew up) and obvious SEC ties, he just makes a ton of sense. I could make a case for him ahead of Venables, honestly," one source said.
We're still checking around some more but I wanted to give you what I've got for now.
I will also say there is considerable chatter that something could/will happen today. I don't KNOW that as a fact but it's definitely possible as more and more wide-ranging sources are kind of pointing in that direction.
Going to be a fun day...
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