Oklahoma head coach Brent Venables had already been snubbed once recently for a national coach award, but the latest slight was even worse.
The Football Writers Association of America on Tuesday announced 12 (12!!!) finalists for Eddie Robinson Coach of the Year, but did not include Venables as one of the top 12 coaches in college football this season after turning the Sooners around from 6-7 to 10-2 and in the College Football Playoff.
Brent Venables not included as finalist for Eddie Robinson Coach of the Year
Finalists included Bob Chesney (James Madison), Curt Cignetti (Indiana), Ryan Day (Ohio State), Mike Elko (Texas A&M), Tony Elliott (Virginia), Marcus Freeman (Notre Dame), Clark Lea (Vanderbilt), Jerry Mack (Kennesaw State), Joey McGuire (Texas Tech, Jim Mora (UConn), Kirby Smart (Georgia) and Jon Sumrall (Tulane).
Last week, OU general manager Jim Nagy and Sooner Nation went to bat for Venables when he wasn’t one of the three finalists for Walter Camp Coach of the Year. It was clear Venables belonged on that exclusive list of three with Cignetti, Day and Lea, so to not be one of 12 was just injudicious…