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How Brent Venables reacted to Dabo Swinney's impression of the Oklahoma coach
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- How Brent Venables reacted to Dabo Swinney's impression of the Oklahoma coach
CLEMSON — Clemson football coach Dabo Swinney saw Oklahoma coach Brent Venables on the sideline during the Tigers' 24-10 win vs. Florida State in Week 11 and asked him for advice.
"I went over and said, 'What you think they're gonna call right here on second-and-14?' He's like, 'Probably a screen or draw. It's probably a screen or draw,'" Swinney said jokingly on Nov. 8 in a deep raspy voice like Venables.
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Venables, Clemson 's former defensive coordinator from 2012-21, didn't hear the impersonation but knew Swinney nailed it.
"He's got me down," Venables said Nov. 10. "He's gotten about everybody down. He's good at the impressions."
Venables attended the game with his wife, Julie, as Oklahoma was on its final open date. Their son, sixth-year safety Tyler Venables , plays for Clemson (4-5, 3-4 ACC).
Brent Venables won't be able to support Tyler for the Tigers ' senior day game on Nov. 22 (4:30 p.m. ET, The CW) against Furman as the Sooners play Missouri on the same day.
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"I love Brent, and it was awesome for him to be a dad and to be able to see T-Bone," Swinney said.
Swinney said Brent Venables, who coached Clemson's defense to multiple top-five finishes in scoring defense and dominant performances in the College Football Playoff, returning brought "good mojo" to the Tigers.
Clemson held Florida State (4-5, 1-5), the No. 1 scoring and total offense in the ACC, to season lows in yards and points to keep its bowl-game hopes alive.
Derrian Carter covers Clemson athletics for The Greenville News and the USA TODAY Network. Email him at dcarter@gannett.com and follow him on X, formerly known as Twitter, @DerrianCarter00
This article originally appeared on Greenville News: Brent Venables reacts to Dabo Swinney impression of Oklahoma coach
