NORMAN — The first time Jay Norvell came to Oklahoma in the spring of 2002, he didn't buy a house or move his belongings.
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He didn't have time to.
Norvell left town within a month of taking the OU wide receivers coaching job to go to the NFL one more time as the tight ends coach for the Oakland Raiders.
Six years later, Norvell is back in Norman again as OU's new assistant offensive coordinator and receivers coach.
And this time around, Norvell says he's expecting to stay in town much longer.
"I broke my record already. We had a big party,” Norvell said, jokingly, after the first day of spring drills. "I had an opportunity to go to the Raiders and a chance to go to the Super Bowl and that was a great experience, a once in a lifetime opportunity.
"But I'm so grateful Bob (Stoops) gave me the opportunity to come back to the program — this is a special place.”
Norvell first met Stoops in the early 1980s when both were playing in the defensive backfield for the Iowa Hawkeyes.
Norvell held assistant jobs at Northern Iowa, Wisconsin and Iowa State before he was offered the job of coaching receivers for the Indianapolis Colts, which he did for four years prior to coming to OU in 2002.
In Norvell's final year at Indianapolis, Marvin Harrison, who should go down as one of the NFL's best all-time wideouts, caught 109 passes for 1,524 yards and 15 touchdowns.
"Jay has a lot of excellent experience that I'm excited about,” Stoops said. "He's a very positive, team-oriented guy who's passionate about the game, and I love that about all of our assistant coaches.”
In 2004, Norvell followed Bill Callahan to Nebraska to become the Cornhuskers' offensive coordinator.
After two years there, Norvell changed jobs again, this time to become UCLA's offensive coordinator, in part because Callahan called his own plays.
Following last season, UCLA fired coach Karl Dorrell after a 6-6 regular-season finish, leaving Norvell looking for work again.
When Kevin Sumlin left OU to become the coach at Houston after the Fiesta Bowl, Stoops knew who he wanted as a replacement.
"You look at where he's been with UCLA and Nebraska, and before that his work when he was at Indianapolis and Oakland as well. He brings a lot of experience at that particular position and brings a lot of experience in his overall knowledge of offenses.”
And so far, Norvell has received positive reviews.
"I like him,” quarterback Sam Bradford said. "He's brought a lot of intensity and he knows what he's talking about.”
And so far, Norvell is happy to be back at OU.
"This is a great place — great tradition, great coaches, great players,” Norvell said. "To be a part of it is very special, getting to work with coach Stoops is special for me.”
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So, Jeff, it would be better to go 6-6, get an invitiation to a meaningless bowl game, beat another 6-6 team and call it a great season? I think not. As for the "invitation" to the BCS.....it's a given, a reward, so to speak for winning the Big 12. Not to say that I have been proud of our showing, that's not the case. But better to earn our way there and stumble than to NEVER have gone at all.
It doesn't matter who is hired. Bob will have our guys ready to play no matter what. The Sooners will go through the big 12 like a hot knife through butter. then they'll get invited to a bcs game and after a week or so of high expectations, will lose to a vastly inferior team. no big deal though, they'll have tons of excuses like the weather, arrests, the coaches and the opposing teams mean fans. go gooners
I agree in part with each and every comment here....Just hoping that there's that certain "spark" next year...You all remember? That will to win deep down in your heart? That will that no one coaches; It's a want to show detractors wrong...The Sooner's best on-field performance this year was when they were doubted... (The Big 12 Championship Game) Quit reading the press & go out and play like the champions you should be, Sooners!
Boomer Sooner
Matt: I agree with your points generally, but at all times the play-calling has got to fit the circumstances, including the personnel available. Our play-calling against Tech did not fit the personnel we had available, nor did it fit the known strengths and weaknesses of Tech's defense.
Randall, granted. I myself questioned the playcalling vs. Tech, but it was because of execution. The playcalling was poor because the player at QB was not prepared to execute. My short memory blocked it out I guess. However, it has been good for the most part and I hear as many guys cry that we run the ball too much. By the way, the offense was horrible Mangino's last year. It was good the next year with Chuck Long and basically the same personnel. Chuck Long was also good when White was at QB, then he was crucified during Bomars year when he could barely get a snap from the center without fumbling. Point is, people forget that a handfull of plays can decide a game, so, an otherwise good performance can easily be ruined. Offense looked decent the first half at Colorado. Turnovers did us in in the second half. I know there were at least 3.
Matt: Playcalling was most definitely the problem against Texas Tech. Tech had the best pass defense in the Big 12, and the 2nd worst rushing defense. We had Sam go out after one series, and in came Joey Halzle, who had thrown all of 8 passes all season. We had three of the best running backs in the conference, and our much-ballyhooed offensive line. So what did Kevin Wilson do? He put the game and the season on the arm of Joey Halzle. That was either crazy or stupid, take your pick.
I don't know if it is bad luck or if our players are overrated but, I can only think of four who have played at an All-Pro level in the NFL, Peterson, Brown, Harris and Roy Williams. This would indicate that the coaching has been very good because Stoops has dominated the Big 12 with talent that has not done as well in the NFL as players from Texas, LSU or USC. Results from the NFL Combine by the OU players were nothing special. Curtis Lofton's bench press results make you wonder just how good Coach Schmitt's strength program really is.
The most common complaint I hear is that the offense is too predictable. Well, there are only two options, run or pass. Even a guy as unlucky as I am can predict what any team will do on a given play. Its not about tricking people. Its about execution. Our players dont always execute. One could argue that as a coaching issue too, but I still dont believe that playcalling is the problem.
Sam Bradford said. "He's brought a lot of intensity and he knows what he's talking about.”
I will rest better knowing Coach Norvell has your endorsement Sam, hahah
The Sooner coaching staff is very, very good, certainly in the Top 10. But, yes, the playbook does need some "freshening", if only to add wrinkles that make preparing to play the Sooners a little harder. And, finally, I do not get the feeling that the plays are designed to fit the personnel, rather, the personnel must fit the plays, which can really diminish the team's chances of maximizing their talent. Still, Stoops record is no accident: these guys are good, really good.
Rick,Bob, if you guys think our coaching staff stinks then be Baylor fans. I'm sure the Baylor fans would love too win as many games as OU!! WVU beat up on a OU team that had key players missing. The replacements tried but broke coverage too often and WVU took adv. of it. BOOMER SOONER!!!
Wow, I don't remember the offense giving up 48 points to west Virginia. It would appear to me an overhaul of the Defensive coaching staff was way more needed. Lets see if Brent and BJW can coach this year and get the DBs in position to keep from giving up so many huge plays to the opposition. The offense scored plenty of points and will continue to do so. Bradford for heisman!!
Jerry, calm down there big guy! Please remember that Leach and Mangino took lesser talent and overachieved. I think Rick's opinion is somewhat valid. It was no slam on Stoops but more a desire to see an offense less predicable and more effective in bowl games. I also believe as Sooner fans we have every right to be spoiled. The day we enjoy and are thankful to lose only 2 or 3 games a season is the day we are to content to play to the level of our competition...
Rick, can you be more ridiculous? Anybody that thinks we could not do worse than Wilson is obvioulsy misguided, confused, silly, spoiled, negative, and lack the ability to remember those offenses that Coach Blake gave us prior to Stoops arrived. Stoops and his staff have done an outstanding job. Those who whine, bashing this coordinator, calling for that coordinator to be fired, are fairweather simpletons. The Sooners have been blessed since Stoops has arrived to have good teams, win Big 12 Titles, go to major bowls, and to have great offensive and defensive coordinators. That all some fairweather simpletons can do is whine is duly noted.
Come one, Rick. We've had a Heisman winnging QB and a 1900 yard rusher without Leach or Mangino. We've scored 500+ points in 3 of the 6 seasons. averages 35+ points/game in 4 seasons, and scored 50+ points in 16 games, including 7 conference games. The Sooners have been doing just fine the last few years.
Give Norvell the reins, lord knows it cant get any worse than what Wilson has done ( or should i say hasnt done). Our Offense has been LAME since Mangino and Leach have left. Lets revise the play book. PLEASE!
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Leave a comment. Log in below or sign up (it's free).Editor's note: It is not our intent to offer comments on crime or fatality stories.
Boomer Sooner
I will rest better knowing Coach Norvell has your endorsement Sam, hahah