Venables’ contract could usher in era of staff stability

CLEMSON — Clemson football could be entering a period of rare staff continuity due to the contract structuring of the program’s top assistants.

New defensive coordinator Brent Venables’ contract is designed similarly to Chad Morris’ new deal, as both contracts contain significant incentive to remain at Clemson until head coaching opportunities arise. Clemson has also been engaged in talks with Dabo Swinney, who would like to have years added to his contract. Swinney has fewer years remaining on his contract (through 2014) than his top assistants Morris (signed through 2017) and Venables (signed through 2016).

Venables agreed to a five-year, $4 million deal to leave Oklahoma for Clemson in January, and like Morris — who has a 6-year, $7.8 million deal —Venables would face significant penalties to leave Clemson for another college assistant position, according to contract details which were released this week.

If the new Clemson defensive coordinator terminates his contract or accepts a lateral assistant position, Venables is obligated to pay the university total annual amount of supplemental income ($550,000) multiplied by the remaining years on his contract plus 25 percent of his base salary ($245,000).

Morris also has a mutli-million dollar buyout to leave Clemson for an assistant job.

Like Morris’ deal, the buyout is waived if Venables departs Clemson for a position his contract defines as one “a reasonable person in the college football coaching profession would believe to be a professional advancement.”

Odds in Clemson’s favor?
Clemson has 25-to-1 odds to win the BCS title in 2012, according to the oddsmaker Bovada.com. Clemson was given the 11th best odds in the country. LSU, Southern Cal and Alabama topped the odds list.

Right tackle battle
Swinney said he is pleased with the strides No. 1 right tackle Gifford Timothy has made since his lackluster redshirt freshman season. But Timothy could have competition sooner rather than later as Morris calls the 6-6, 260-pound Joe Gore “as athletic as anybody we’ve got ... he’s pushing (Timothy).”

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