OU football: Mark Hutson gets his chance

Mark Hutson showed up on the University of Oklahoma campus 27 years ago and immediately made an impact. Merv Johnson, who coached OU’s offensive line under Barry Switzer, called Hutson “by far the most proficient, sound and smart freshman lineman I’ve ever worked with. He plays like a senior, with his knowledge and anticipation.”

Hutson, a tackle from Fort Smith Northside, just across the Arkansas line, made the Sooner rotation as a true freshman, then moved to guard and became a two-time all-American and three-time all-Big Eight pick. He was part of those great

Hutson still is putting those smarts to use. He’s the interim head coach at Tulane, which this week fired Bob Toledo.

“You’d like for it to be under different circumstances,’’ Hutson told the New Orleans Times-Picayune. “But every assistant has aspirations and dreams to become a head coach. Certainly, I’m no different. I’ve dreamed of being in that chair.”

Hutson already has been in that chair. He took as interim head coach at Eastern Illinois in 2006 and led EIU to an 8-5 record and a Ohio Valley Conference co-championship. Hutson joined Toledo at Tulane in 2007. Previously, Hutson was a graduate assistant at OU in 1990-92, then joined Houston Nutt’s staffs at Murray State, Boise State and Arkansas. Hutson spent three years at Tulsa, 2000-02, before going to Eastern Illinois.

The Tulane job is not easy. The Green Wave was 15-40 in 41/2 seasons under Toledo and hasn’t had a winning season since 2002. Tulane is 2-5 this season and plays Memphis on Saturday.