Brent Venables details ‘anxious time’ in college football amid early firings

The college football landscape this season has been unforgiving, if there was a word to describe it. With five weeks remaining in the season, powerhouse programs such as LSU, Florida and Penn State have parted ways with their coaches. Arkansas, Oklahoma State and Virginia Tech have also made changes in leadership.

In today’s day and age of social media, where noise around a head coach can get LOUD if his team is underperforming, coaches can go from being in the final four of the College Football Playoff to getting canned just one season later in the case of James Franklin.

Oklahoma head coach Brent Venables was asked about the firings around the sport during a media opportunity on Tuesday. Venables didn’t touch on any of the individuals, but labeled today as an ‘anxious time’ in college football.

“Obviously I’m not privy to the details of those individual cases, but this is an anxious time,” Venables said. “An exciting time, but an anxious time, in college football. There’s never been as much disruption as there is today. Every university, fanbase, administration and leadership have their own set of standards and priorities. From a fan’s perspective, everybody is wanting a piece of that action. I get it.”

Leashes on college coaches are getting shorter and shorter

“You see too many programs that have been able to have success immediately, and there have been a lot of programs disrupted because they had been used to a level of consistency that maybe they’re not experiencing right now,” Venables continued. “Just an anxious time. Lots of emotion in the moment and college football has never lacked emotion of passion. I think you’re seeing a bit of that. As far as those individual cases, I really don’t have an opinion because I’m not privy to the information case-by-case.”

There’s no doubt that Venables has heard the noise surrounding the program following Oklahoma‘s 6-2 start to the season. Following their 34-26 loss to Ole Miss on Saturday, it appears that the Sooners will once again be held out of the College Football Playoff. In his two seasons of coaching in the SEC, Venables has led OU to just a 12-9 record.

The program hasn’t reached the College Football Playoff since Lincoln Riley departed and this noise could continue to grow louder if Venables and the Sooners aren’t at least pushing for the CFP next season. As for now however, he shouldn’t have to worry about joining Brian Kelly and others in looking for a new job.