Long-time OU Defensive Coordinator Brent Venables is leaving OU to take the same position with the Clemson Tigers.

All the official details are in the Tulsa World Story by John Hoover.

Venables made it very clear that this move had nothing to do with the addition of Mike Stoops to the OU staff.  Venables will be on the Big Show this afternoon at 4pm to discuss the decision.

Tulsa World with the official story:

Oklahoma football coach Bob Stoops confirmed in an early-morning text Thursday to the Tulsa World that his brother, Mike Stoops, would return to his staff as co-defensive coordinator. Stoops said his younger brother would replace secondary coach Willie Martinez.

Read more from this Tulsa World article at http://www.tulsaworld.com/sportsextra/OU/article.aspx?subjectid=92&articleid=20120112_92_0_Oklaho898377

1430 The Buzz is currently tracking the latest on Brent Venables... He is considered to be a candidate to take over at either West Virginia OR Clemson as its defensive coordinator.

Oklahoma State deserved a shot to play for the National Championship.  The fact that we have a rematch of LSU and Alabama is disappointing not only for the Cowboy Nation but also for all of college football.

Last week I made a very clear statement consistently on the Big Show.  Win Bedlam, clinch your first outright conference championship, and then let’s talk about getting a shot to play for a National Title.  Some considered this a shot at OSU or a disbelief in the Pokes.  Nothing could be further from the truth.  In fact, it was the same approach that Mike Gundy used and in the end it was the same approach the Sports Information Department for OSU used as well. Unfortunately it didn’t work BUT the Pokes are now a team that has notched an impressive spot in the college football conversation for years to come.

The next challenge for OSU is to bring home the Fiesta Bowl crown with a decisive win over Stanford and future NFL #1 pick Andrew Luck.  So many times team cry about being left out of the BCS or a Championship game and then lay an egg in its bowl game.  I think this disciplined and committed OSU team will not let that happen.  It’s an amazing moment for fans of the Orange and Black and a watershed moment for a program that has been cast in the background of OU for the better part of a century.  This is your moment OSU this is your time; continue to own it like you have.  

On to the Sooners… I am truly at a loss for words.  I still will never be able to figure out how this team that destroyed Texas, survived Florida State, and whipped up on Kansas State in Manhattan finished with 3 losses.  I can honestly say that I learned a ton covering Coach Bob Stoops this year but the ultimate lesson is learning who is ultimately responsible.  At every disappointment at every less than Sooner worthy performance the head coach was front and center pointing the finger directly at… himself.  The injuries were never allowed to be an excuse.  Personal accountability so many times is lost in our society and that is one area of immense respect I have for Bob Stoops and his staff.  It would have been easy to throw players under the bus for poor performance or eligibility issues.  Stoops and staff never did that and never will.

Biggest off-season question:

1)      Who stays who goes -- Does Landry return for his senior year (I say he does).  Will Ronnell Lewis or say a Demontre Hurst turn pro? 

2)      Replacing key starters --  Is it Kellen Jones or Jayden Bird that will be charged with replacing Travis Lewis or does Cory Nelson slide back to his natural WLB position. Has Gabe Lynn improved enough to gain a shot to replace Jamell Fleming or is Lamar Harris next in line?  Is Kenny Stills ready to be the #1 receiver/play maker with this offense?   Who becomes the playmaker on the Defensive Line to replace Frank Alexander?  And finally with Donald Stephenson graduating is it on Lane Johnson to shift over to left tackle and anchor the Sooner offensive line.

3)      Who emerges at tailback – Last year it was a surprising walk-on in Dominique Whaley.  Does Brandon Williams show he can hold on to the football consistently?  Has Brennan Clay overcome his injuries to be worthy of #1 back status?

Bottom line… this is going to be one of the most interesting off seasons in Sooner, Cowboy, and TU football history.  The only remaining question is of the 3 schools, which coaching staff undergoes the most change based on performance AND other opportunities??