Venables is wise beyond his years IMO. Most people could use the same kind of clarity with their careers. I have no doubt Venables would be offered and would take a HC job if he felt he had all the resources he needed AND would not get forced out by year 3 or 5 if he’s not winning 10 games or conference championships. It makes complete sense not to want to leave a $1 million+ per year job where you’re doing what you love without the bureaucratic BS and constant scrutiny.
It would be easier for him to get this if he took a job like UCF. If, in fact, Venables wants to be a head coach, he should look at someone like Scott Frost and Willie Taggart as to how to build a career. Both of those guys were playing when Brent was coaching, they took coordinator positions, turned them into very good group of 5 jobs, did well with them to get great, high paying P5 jobs. These guys went from the field to jobs at Nebraska and Florida State while Brent has been a defensive coordinator.
An argument made frequently against Sean is that he shouldn't get the K-State job if it's the only one he can get. That's a fair criticism but it should be equally applied. I'm sorry but it appears as if K-State is the absolute ceiling of job that Brent is getting and I view his unwillingness to take a job ready made for success, like UCF, a giant red flag.
good points, but do you really believe Venables couldn't get a job like USF or UCF or Toledo or Akron? (I realize those 4 jobs aren't equal). Is anyone asking Sean if he's a candidate at Arkansas?
No no, I think he can, that's the issue for me. He can't get an offer at a decent P5 but he won't take a good group of 5 job. He's been a coordinator for 20 seasons, it's quite clear his shortest path to getting a good P5 job is having one damn decent season at a group of 5. I'm okay with him getting the K-State job, because like I have said we're getting someone with warts regardless. It's just interesting to me that K-Staters are competent okay with his either:
1. Inability to get an equivalent job
2. Lack of motivation to be a head coach
3. Unwillingness to show he's capable of overcoming his perceived shortcomings by taking a decent job.
The rationalization is fascinating to me, that's all.