Josh Pate went on FanDuel Sports Network’s Up & Adams with Kay Adams and didn’t maintain again when rating the scariest coaches in school soccer. He put (*5*) head coach Brent Venables in his high 5, and the way in which he described him makes good sense.
Pate is aware of Venables properly from years of overlaying him, and his take was fairly spot on.
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“Anytime I go to Oklahoma, we have sit downs scheduled with him. It’s always scheduled for 10:45 and then at 10:52, he walks in pouring sweat because he’s been running stadium steps in between his office duties and his media duties. The guy can lift, guy can yell. He’s got the veins all over the neck and the forehead when he really gets worked up. I wouldn’t want to be in a dark alley with him.”
Venables is 55 years outdated and nonetheless on the market working stadium steps prefer it’s nothing. He reveals as much as conferences drenched in sweat with veins popping as a result of he’s been grinding the entire time.
That depth isn’t faux — it’s who he’s.
Pate nailed the intimidation issue. Venables has at all times been that old-school, no-nonsense coach. He’s not attempting to be your buddy. He’s there to push you, coach you exhausting, and get the best possible out of you.
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He’s imposing, however it comes from an excellent place. He desires his gamers to be powerful, bodily, and prepared for regardless of the SEC throws at them.
That mindset has outlined his teaching profession, whether or not at Clemson or now at Oklahoma.
The tales about his depth are legendary. Back at Clemson as defensive coordinator, he’d get so fired up throughout scout crew intervals that he’d seize a helmet, go by the title “Jimmy Greenbeans,” and line up at quarterback himself.
He’d crash into future NFL defensive linemen, generally coming away bloody and even breaking bones. That’s the form of coach he’s — he competes as exhausting as anybody on the sector.
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On sport days, his vitality is so excessive that he used to want a devoted “get back” coach whose solely job was to bodily pull him again onto the sideline when he’d begin sprinting onto the sector within the warmth of the second.
Pate’s remark about not desirous to be in a darkish alley with him is humorous, however it speaks to the presence Venables has. He’s constructed like he can nonetheless play, he yells with objective, and when he will get going, you are feeling it.
That fireplace interprets to his gamers. They play with an edge as a result of their coach does.
What makes Venables scary for opposing offenses goes past the bodily stuff. He research movie like a maniac. Players on different groups have stated it appears like he’s of their huddle as a result of his protection will name out performs earlier than the snap.
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He continuously modifications issues up week to week, drawing up new seems on Monday and having his guys able to execute by Saturday. That’s a nightmare for offensive coordinators.
His defenses are constructed to be bodily, punishing, relentless, and suffocating. He makes use of all types of stunts, blitzes, and pre-snap disguises to mess with quarterbacks and offensive traces. That’s why his models have been so profitable wherever he’s gone.
The greatest irony of all of it is Venables is ACTUALLY one of many nicest coaches round.
Gone are the finesse Lincoln Riley days, and now the Sooners have somebody who brings the depth each single day.
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Venables has this system headed in the best route, and that aggressive fireplace he reveals is rubbing off on the gamers. Last yr’s playoff look was proof that it’s working.
Josh Pate placing Venables within the high 5 scariest coaches makes complete sense. The man seems the half, acts the half, and coaches the half.
He’s old-school in one of the best ways. As lengthy as he’s bringing that vitality, Oklahoma ought to maintain trending upward.