Oklahoma fans in disbelief after another national snub for Brent Venables

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.

Many believed Venables wouldn't even have a job at this point in the season, yet he's preparing for a home playoff game against Alabama, which his team already beat once this season on the road. The Sooners endured one of the toughest schedules in the country to be 10-2 and earn a home playoff game as the No. 8 seed in the College Football Playoff. A lot of the credit for that success goes to Venables, not only as the head coach, but because the defense has been the backbone of the Sooners this season after he took over defensive play-calling duties over the offseason.

After already being frustrated when Venables was left off a list of three finalists, OU fans couldn't even believe when their head coach wasn't on a list of 12, including athletic director Joe Castiglione.