CLEMSON FOOTBALL

Venables on Kelly Bryant:
Venables said loyalty is in his nature

Venables on Kelly Bryant: "I believe in fighting and just sticking to it"


by - Senior Writer -

CLEMSON – Brent Venables isn’t afraid to show emotion, and as he sat in a chair outside of the Clemson locker room after the Tigers’ 27-23 victory over Syracuse, those emotions poured out.

Venables works on the defensive side of the ball but he’s been around former quarterback Kelly Bryant for four years. Bryant decided earlier this week that he would transfer out of the program rather than battle freshman quarterback Trevor Lawrence for a starting spot.

When Venables was asked about Bryant’s decision, he said his loyalty would have forced him to stick around.

“It’s sad to see. I hate it, just the big picture,” Venables said. “I’m just a loyal guy. I believe in just fighting and sticking to it. That’s just me. That’s easy to say. I’m not sitting here trying to judge. He had such an incredible legacy here (with) his leadership and his toughness and his accomplishments.

“I (would) just keep fighting and control what I can control. And (I would think), ‘My teammates are here and this is my team,’ because that’s how we all looked at him.”

Venables then realized he might have been too open with the media.

“I probably have said too much. I’ve got my own problems,” Venables said. “But as a member of this team, as a coach, I’ve always and I still do hold Kelly in very high regard because I know the pressure that goes with that is different than there is at middle linebacker. I know that. I just don’t think that if there are opportunities down the road you have to go look somewhere else. I think you can have those same opportunities right here. That’s just me.”

Clemson head coach Dabo Swinney set a Wednesday deadline for Bryant to make a decision to return, and the Tigers could have used Bryant’s veteran leadership when Lawrence went out with a concussion in the first half.

Instead of Bryant’s steadying hand, like at Texas A&M, the coaches turned to redshirt freshman Chase Brice. All Brice did was lead Clemson back from a 16-7 halftime deficit, showing the Tigers still have options at signal caller.

After the game, Swinney indicated he was ready, like Venables, to move on from the Bryant situation.

“I have no idea,” Swinney said, asked if Bryant was still enrolled at Clemson. “Not talking anything (more) about Kelly. Just going to talk about our team. I’ve addressed everything I’m going to address on Kelly. I wish him all the best and we’re moving on.”

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Subject (Replies: 39) Author
spacer TNET: Venables on Kelly Bryant: "I believe in fighting and just sticking to it"
TigerNet News®
spacer 2 things
InletTiger15®
spacer I hope Coach Venables
camdentiger09
spacer Re: I hope Coach Venables
allorangeallthetime52®
spacer Re: TNET: Venables on Kelly Bryant: "I believe in fighting and just sticking to it"
v_eight
spacer He!! to the NO!!! I wouldn't let Bryant come back. Are you
TigerFanX2000
spacer Re: He!! to the NO!!! I wouldn't let Bryant come back. Are you
Tigerman1978
spacer Re: He!! to the NO!!! I wouldn't let Bryant come back. Are you
InletTiger15®
spacer yeah im sick of hearing dabo and company
tgrfan42069
spacer Re: He!! to the NO!!! I wouldn't let Bryant come back. Are you
Spruce
spacer Re: He!! to the NO!!! I wouldn't let Bryant come back. Are you
CinnaSugar55
spacer Re: He!! to the NO!!! I wouldn't let Bryant come back. Are you
CinnaSugar55
spacer same..you cant leave when things arent your way
tgrfan42069
spacer i think the deadline was when he didnt show up to practice
tgrfan42069
spacer Re: He!! to the NO!!! I wouldn't let Bryant come back. Are you
twill
spacer Re: He!! to the NO!!! I wouldn't let Bryant come back. Are you
speedracer®
spacer Re: you media guys have always talked about KB's "steadying hand"
Rw43
spacer Re: you media guys have always talked about KB's "steadying hand"
Rw43
spacer Re: TNET: Venables on Kelly Bryant: "I believe in fighting and just sticking to it"
AfricanTiger
spacer I saw his great leadership skills at the spring game and I was sick to my stomach
nkickha
spacer What it came down to is a Brice
JumboTiger
spacer So much for "Blooming where you are planted."***
ClemsonTiger1988®
spacer Re: TNET: Venables on Kelly Bryant: "I believe in fighting and just sticking to it"
saddis56®
spacer Sensitive Cheerleaders
CUatFike00
spacer Re: Sensitive Cheerleaders
Dugatiger®
spacer AMEN! As the old saying goes I wouldn't...........
celtic_tiger®
spacer Re: TNET: Venables on Kelly Bryant: "I believe in fighting and just sticking to it"
cuthbert
spacer Re: TNET: This is why Kelly Bryant is NOT coming Back
PAWof4
spacer Re: TNET: This is why Kelly Bryant is NOT coming Back
jeancooper
spacer Re: TNET: Venables on Kelly Bryant: "I believe in fighting and just sticking to it"
Tigermann77
spacer This is for .....
Boskeet
spacer Re: TNET: Venables on Kelly Bryant: "I believe in fighting and just sticking to it"
TigerLube
spacer Re: TNET: Venables on Kelly Bryant: "I believe in fighting and just sticking to it"
MemphisCat
spacer I wonder if...
ArmyChief
spacer Anyone who is sincerely Clemson Family will understand
Roundhouse1313®
spacer Re: Anyone who is sincerely Clemson Family will understand
CarolinaKudzu
spacer Re: TNET: Venables on Kelly Bryant: "I believe in fighting and just sticking to it"
jeancooper
spacer If it had been Kelly instead of Chase, we might
tigeron®
spacer The End of an Era
Prime T. Tiger
spacer I love BV, I really do. But let’s not forget how he came us
twentytwofifteen