NORMAN — Now that Purdue has named a future head coach, Oklahoma could soon be naming a wide receivers coach.
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Friday, the Boilermakers announced Eastern Kentucky coach Danny Hope as successor to Joe Tiller, who will retire following the 2008 season.
Among the finalists for that position was former UCLA offensive coordinator Jay Norvell, now perhaps a leading candidate to replace Kevin Sumlin as OU's wide receivers coach and co-offensive coordinator.
Norvell, 44, has been the only candidate rumored to take the place of Sumlin, who headed to Houston following the Fiesta Bowl as the Cougars' new head coach.
That might explain why Sooner coach Bob Stoops has taken his time in hiring Sumlin's replacement — perhaps Stoops has been waiting to find out if Norvell would be available.
Stoops and Norvell have a long connection spanning back to when the two played together at Iowa in the early 1980s.
After coaching stints at Wisconsin, Iowa State and with the NFL's Indianapolis Colts, Norvell met up with his old teammate when Stoops hired Norvell to be OU's wide receivers coach in February 2002 to replace Steve Spurrier Jr.
"It just comes down to character, work ethic and discipline and I know Jay has those traits,” Stoops said back in 2002. "He's everything you look for in a coach.”
Their meeting, however, didn't last long.
After only a month in Norman, Norvell bolted for the NFL again, this time to be the Oakland Raiders' tight ends coach under Bill Callahan.
When Callahan became coach at Nebraska in 2004, Norvell went with him as his offensive coordinator, although Callahan called the offensive plays.
For that reason, Norvell left Nebraska before last season for UCLA to be the Bruins' offensive coordinator and primary play-caller.
When UCLA fired head coach Karl Dorrell last month, Norvell was looking for a job once again.
Norvell could be a good fit at OU for several reasons.
Even though UCLA didn't light it up offensively last year (92nd nationally in scoring) Norvell would bring a fresh perspective in play-calling.
Norvell would also grab the attention of OU's wide receivers by the fact that he tutored perennial all-pro Marvin Harrison during Harrison's early years with the Colts.
The downside?
Longevity.
Norvell wants to be a primary play-caller somewhere.
And if that opportunity came about, who knows how long his second stay in Norman would be?
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How about Norm Chow? Tennessee canned him today, because it's apparently his fault that Vince Young is too stupid to grasp any system other than "make one read, and if it's not there, run like hell." With a cerebral QB, which Bradford is, Chow is still unparalleled as an offensive mind at the college level. In fact, I say tell Kevin Wilson to hit the bricks and bring in Chow as the new O.C. Won't happen, because loyalty to staff members is more important to Bob Stoops than winning championships.
I agree, this guy has "rabbit" in him and will leave again as soon as something better comes up. I guess Stoops has no plans on doing any "MAJOR" changes with either Offensive or Defensive play callers? Bad choice in my opinion.
I don't think he would be a good hire considering that he has not produced any success since coaching Marvin Harrison. In addition, he's already proved that he will leave OU as soon as he get's a chance no matter the timing - the players deserve better.
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