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Clemson defensive coordinator Brent Venables snapped at his ‘get back’ coach, and I’m shook

The Clemson defensive coordinator and his closest in-game confidant, Adam Smotherman, are going through a rough patch.

NCAA Football: CFP National Championship-Alabama vs Clemson
NCAA Football: CFP National Championship-Alabama vs Clemson
Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

Remember the first time you saw your parents snap at each other? Maybe dad forgot to take the trash out and mom let him have it. It kinda pops through the veneer of love at a young age when you see adults get snippy with one another.

That’s how I felt when I watched Clemson’s Brent Venables get testy with his get-back coach.

Venables, probably the best defensive coordinator in the country, is a pretty energetic guy. He shows a ton of enthusiasm on the sideline and sometimes that means he steps onto the field of play. Someone has to be responsible and get him back onto the sideline so Clemson doesn’t get penalized (and it’s something refs are really cracking down on this season).

That job falls to assistant strength coach Adam Smotherman.

They usually work in perfect tandem. Venables encroaches, Smotherman gets a wide base and yanks him back.

Until this fateful night in Lane Stadium when Venables bit back. Even the strongest of relationships go through some hard times. Hopefully Venables and Smotherman can work through this rough patch.

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