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'Uncomfortable' Venables a pleasure to honor

Clemson Defensive Coordinator Brent Venables, winner of the 2016 Broyles award, and Mark May, ABC/ESPN analyst, talk after the 2016 Broyles Awards ceremony at the Marriott in Little Rock on Tuesday, Dec. 6, 2016.
Clemson Defensive Coordinator Brent Venables, winner of the 2016 Broyles award, and Mark May, ABC/ESPN analyst, talk after the 2016 Broyles Awards ceremony at the Marriott in Little Rock on Tuesday, Dec. 6, 2016.

Brent Venables was genuinely "uncomfortable" that he was chosen as the winner of the Broyles Award.

The defensive coordinator for Clemson kept talking about all the great coaches in the country, especially his fellow finalists who he felt deserved it more than him.

Venables, 45, used the word blessed a lot and really didn't talk about himself, always steering questions to answers about the great players; his boss, Dabo Swinney; and anyone and everyone but himself.

He called the award for being the top assistant in college football the ultimate team award.

It was Venables third time to make the finals. The first was in 2006 when he was still at Oklahoma, where he coached for 13 years under Bob Stoops, who in 2012 brought his brother, Mike Stoops, back to be defensive coordinator. Venables found himself moving his family to Clemson and basically starting over.

Typical of Venables, he spoke with almost reverence of Bob Stoops, saying he loved him.

In a world of spiraling salaries, growing egos and amazing arrogance, Venables was a cool drink on a hot day, totally refreshing.

It is no small wonder that his players love him and battle for him on every down.

Venables managed to work in the Frank and Barbara Broyles Foundation and its great work into most conversations.

This year David Bazzel -- founder of the Broyles Award 21 years ago -- contacted Broyles' daughter, Betsy Arnold, who is the CEO of the foundation, and asked her whether they would like to take over the Broyles Award. He said it should belong to the family.

Arnold and her daughter, Molly Gay, vice president of the foundation, claimed they started dancing and celebrating before hanging up.

They were on stage Tuesday, a nice, gentle presence that took nothing away from the Broyles Award -- in fact, it probably took it to a new level because of their work in educating and preparing families and caregivers to deal with Alzheimer's disease.

Arnold and Gay's passion began when their family moved from Texas to Fayetteville to help Arnold's twin sister, Linda, care for Barbara Broyles, who was diagnosed with Alzheimer's. In 2006, the foundation published Coach Broyles' Playbook for Alzheimer's Caregivers and it has affected and helped hundreds of thousands of families.

All of the finalists for the Broyles Award saluted their efforts, including the winner, who absolutely was a joy to be around, especially afterward as he took time to pose for pictures and do an interview with Eric Sullivan and Dave Medford on their show Out of Bounds on KABZ-FM, 103.7, The Buzz.

When Sullivan asked Venables how he felt, he said, "uncomfortable" and explained how much respect he has for coaches all across the country who he felt deserved the award more.

Before going on the show, Venables was asked why he isn't a head coach.

"I'm very happy with my situation," he said.

His eyes said that question made him uncomfortable, too.

Venables has been mentioned many times for openings, and many times he has declined to get involved.

He makes $1.4 million and is fiercely loyal to Swinney, and by the time he got to Little Rock for the Broyles Award he had watched three Ohio State game films. Clemson faces the Buckeyes in the College Football Playoff in the Fiesta Bowl on Dec. 31.

Being the Broyles Award winner made Venables uncomfortable, in a good way, but it also was a plus on his resume.

Sports on 12/08/2016

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