Skip to main content
Join Now
Team Avatar
Clemson

Brent Venables makes appearance at Clemson-Florida State game

Chandler Vesselsby: Chandler Vessels23 hours agoChandlerVessels
brent venables clemson
Adam Hagy-Imagn Images

Brent Venables was back at his old stomping grounds on Saturday to watch Clemson take on Florida State at Memorial Stadium. With Oklahoma on a bye this week, the Sooners coach and former Tigers defensive coordinator made the trip to support his former team.

Venables was the DC at Clemson for 10 seasons from 2012-21 before accepting the head coaching job at Oklahoma. He was part of six trips to the College Football Playoff as well as two national championship victories during that span. The Tigers had a reputation for being one of the top defenses in the country year in and year out under his direction.

It’s not just his ties to the Tigers as a former coach that brought Venables back to Death Valley, however. His son, Tyler, is a sixth-year safety playing at Clemson and the coach likely wanted to chance to see him play in person one of the few times he is able to. Brent Venables was seen wearing a Clemson hat as he interacted with his son before the game.

Currently, however, Clemson is in the midst of its worst season in quite some time. The Tigers enter Saturday’s contest against the Seminoles at just 3-5 (2-4 ACC) and in danger of missing a bowl game for the first time in 18 seasons under coach Dabo Swinney.

To achieve bowl eligibility, Clemson would need to win three of its remaining four regular season games. There’s certainly a good chance to do so Saturday evening and the team will hope Venables’ presence can serve as a good luck charm.

As for the Sooners, they’re having a lot better of a season in what is their fourth year under Venables. Oklahoma is coming off of a 33-27 road victory against Tennessee in Week 10 that kept its hope of reaching the CFP alive and faces another big test next week against No. 4 Alabama.

Venables will surely turn his full focus to the game against the Crimson Time come Sunday, but for now he is enjoying his off week by supporting his old school. Clemson struck first and currently holds an 8-0 lead over Florida State after the end of the first quarter.

The Tigers will hope that holds as they look to at least finish out the remainder of the season with some positive momentum. Venables is clearly pulling for the same to happen as he gets the rare chance to spend the night as a fan.