DALLAS ― Brent Venables stood on the sideline as Oklahoma’s co-defensive coordinator in 2000, when current Tennessee football coach Josh Heupel quarterbacked the Sooners to a national championship.
On Sept. 21, Venables will stand opposite Heupel at Gaylord Family-Oklahoma Memorial Stadium when the Vols meet the Sooners in SEC play for the first time.
Asked about his relationship with Heupel ahead of the matchup, Venables said at SEC Media Days Tuesday that he holds a “deep appreciation” for the Tennessee coach, and that his success with the Vols is no surprise.
“He’s always been a winner,” Venables said.
Heupel coached Tennessee to a 9-4 season in 2023, on the back of an 11-win campaign the year prior. Venables said he saw the traits required to be a successful coach in Heupel during his time with the Sooners ‒ something he believed to be a function of Heupel’s upbringing as a coach’s son.
He also watched Heupel demonstrate an ability to lead.
“I’ve always looked back and said, ‘Man, we couldn’t have done it without ‘Heup,'” Venables said. “His leadership, what he was able to do from a transformation standpoint to our locker room, the guts and the toughness that he played through that 2000 season. I’ve always held him up here on this pedestal when it comes to a player standpoint.”
Venables said he’s remained in contact with Heupel throughout his coaching journey. They last met on the field when Heupel was coaching quarterbacks at Oklahoma in 2014. Venables’ Clemson defense got the better of the Sooners that day in a 40-6 Tigers win.
“We’ve stayed in touch through those moments of success and some of the moments and the challenges that a football season will bring you,” Venables said. “Great friend, he and his wife Dawn and their children, really great friends of ours. Just really happy for him and the success that he’s had.”
ADAMS: Tennessee football coach Josh Heupel is better on game day than media day | Adams
David Eckert covers Ole Miss for the Clarion Ledger. Email him at deckert@gannett.com or reach him on Twitter @davideckert98.
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This article originally appeared on Mississippi Clarion Ledger: Brent Venables’ memory of coaching Tennessee football’s Josh Heupel
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