Brent Venables debates Clemson vs. LSU over what the “real Death Valley” is

Oklahoma Head coach Brent Venables will lead his Sooners team into the LSU version of Death Valley for the first time on Saturday. Although Venables has yet to experience a game at LSU’s Death Valley, he is incredibly familiar with Clemson’s.

for years, Clemson and LSU have gone back and forth when it comes to who has the real Death Valley. Brent Venables, who coached at Clemson for a decade, expressed his thoughts during his press conference this week.

“Well, let me just look at these stats here,” Brent Venables said. “Um, the one we’re going to get into this week, um, 14-1 in night home games since Coach Kelly has been there for three years. They are 18-2 overall at home.

“Listen, I’ve heard from every coach I love and respect who’s been to every major venue, the best of the best, and everyone points to Death Valley, Baton Rouge, night games, I hope your team didn’t do that has.” can be planned. Because that’s the biggest challenge there is in college football.”

Still, Venables isn’t taking anything away from Clemson. After all, the Tigers had won 40 home games in a row before suffering a loss South Carolina two seasons ago.

Clemson’s Death Valley is also an incredibly difficult place to play, and Brent Venables has seen that firsthand.

“Both have history. There’s a real story that’s, you know, a paper trail, if you will. There is a rock trail that leads back to Death Valley, California for Clemson, and I remember as a kid not knowing where Clemson was. Hell, growing up I didn’t know what city Clemson was in,” Venables said. “I’m like, ‘What city is this in? Clemson?’ I didn’t even know what state it was in. I just thought Clemson was a college. I didn’t know it was the name of the city.

“I just knew there was a mystical hill that I thought came from nowhere. Where did they come from? It seemed like an intimidating thing, and it really is. Incredibly intimidating, loud environment. As good as it is.”

Brent Venables knows his Oklahoma team will have their hands full Saturday at LSU in Death Valley, but he’s looking forward to the challenge.

“I know we’re going to get the best out of the LSU faithful, but you’re also really looking forward to it because you love a challenge and this will be a real thing,” Venables said. “But you tell your players again that external factors don’t win. The execution, the physicality and the effort do the things we can control. But something I’m looking forward to.”