KU brass pulled the plug on the Charlie Weis experiment Sunday morning less than 12 hours after the Jayhawk offense looked completely inept on their way to being shutout against a suspect Texas squad.
And much like any college football head coaching vacancy, it didn’t take long for the media to start speculating on possible candidates to replace Weis. One of those names, with Kansas (the state, not the school) ties is a familiar one for OU fans.
Names to watch for #Kansas vacancy: #Clemson DC Brent Venables, ex #USC interim Ed Orgeron & #TAMU asst David Beaty. All are 180s from Weis.
— Bruce Feldman (@BruceFeldmanCFB) September 28, 2014
Would Venables actually leave a very, very well-paid DC job to take over a program like Kansas? Can he afford to keep passing up/ignoring head coaching jobs (assuming HC is a goal of his)?
As I said on Twitter earlier today, I’ve always felt Venables would make a better HC than he does a DC. He’s an intense, details oriented guy, who is an outstanding recruiter. I’ve never felt his strength was calling a defensive game, but allow him to focus more on the big picture and put quality assistants around him, I think he’d be a very successful HC.
But can anybody manage to do that at Kansas? (And, yes, I know Mark Mangino won there however relatively brief a period that may have been.)
16 Comments
Would certainly be interesting if Venables took a shot. I agree about his potential as a HC over galling games as DC…
Wonder if Heupels name gets thrown in
As bad as trying to turn KU around sounds, I’d think it’s still more attractive than SMU. Good and legitimate question about Heupel, by the way.
It can be done. Mangino did it. He’ll have to pull in an Air Raid guy to do it though. Conventional game plans won’t work because you’ll always have an athlete deficit to OU, Texas, Baylor, etc… He’s got the ability to win some recruiting battles though. If I was Kansas I’d go after a young guy like Jake Spavital. A&M is so hot right now.
I was thinking that Spavital would be a good replacement for JH if/when he decides to fly the coop.
Isn’t he the OC/QB coach at aTm? Doubt a guy like that would leave aTm for OU.
He might- Oklahoma is home and OU has been a great team a lot longer than a$m.
Unless Kansas makes a very competitive offer, I’d see Venables waiting for a shot at Snyder’s job if he were to take a job in Kansas.
That’s what I was thinking. Snyder can’t be doing this very much longer (although, it really wouldn’t surprise me if he coached til he was 100). But V could wait a couple years and go to his alma mater, with a much better roster to coach.
On the flip side. Should his defenses get lit up on the big stage, I wonder how much longer his stock will be high…
How many KU Head Coaches in the last 10-12 years? How many AD’s for the same time period. Might have to point the finger in more than one direction.
I know a lot of KSU guys still love Brent V. and he does seem to be the majority pick if/when Snyder steps down. I wonder if Brent V. would be willing to tear the heart out of his cult following in Manhattan. IMO, he’d be a great choice.
I don’t think they will touch offense-minded guys this time around… Should just bite the bullet and bring fat man back
They should go after the North Dakota State head coach. All that dude does is win titles.
I think Kansas might be a demotion from NDSU unfortunately
Sadly you’re probably right. I don’t get it. Kansas’ high schools produce more college talent than Iowa, Nebraska and Colorado.
Charlie Weis is making a killing on contract buyouts…my career strategy is all wrong! I should pretend I’m really good at my job, get a big raise, then just suck at it like I used to until they pay me to leave…genius!!!