NU's Norvell Leaves For UCLA

2 comments so far January 27, 2007 by Darren K. Carlson

Nebraska offensive coordinator Jay Norvell is leaving NU to take the same position at UCLA. While it is probably difficult for many fans to accept an assistant coaching leaving NU for a comparable job - rather than a promotion - some place else, there are some reasons for this choice. Everything from Norvell’s "seeker" mentality, the opportunity to call plays, and the general atmosphere of coaching turnover these days played at least some part in this change.

He's a Seeker
On some level, folks had to see this coming with Norvell. He's apparently at least a somewhat hot commodity in the coaching community. Just recall how Coach Callahan and Steve Pederson were willing to go to the wall to get him from Al Davis' Oakland Raiders in 2003. And things tend to end the way they start. Norvell's recent actions reveal him to be a pretty active job seeker. He's interviewed for head coaching jobs at Iowa State, North Texas and Boston College.

So, why did he make this particular move laterally to the same job at UCLA? Norvell will have the opportunity to call plays for the Bruins, which he didn't get at NU. Coach Callahan calls the plays here. I suppose game-day results from play calling are the hallmark of what a coordinator is. So, there is some new opportunity for him.

Downsides
My first reaction to Norvell's leaving was a bit muted. Because, if he didn't call the plays, how big a loss is it? Then I remembered the offensive track record of last season's team. Last year's Huskers started fast on offense and looked sharp in the first half, then they sputtered in their second-half performance. Many say this is due to a lack of offensive adjustments. Assume for a second that Norvell had a lot to do with the game plans that bred those fast starts and that the lack of adjustments was due to the guy calling the plays. Yikes. I hope part of our great game planning didn't just walk out the door. And that is the biggest downside I see for NU in this.

For Norvell, the downside is pretty obvious. While UCLA flashed potential in the win over USC this year, they did finish 7-6 with a bowl loss. Head coach Karl Dorrell is hardly what I would call completely secure in that job. If Norvell can get UCLA's offense to play at a level that resembles their defense, then double-digit wins and job security are in site. If UCLA stumbles to a near or sub .500 record, he could find himself on the coaching carousel again. Think it can't happen? Ask Marvin Sanders who left NU to be the defensive coordinator at North Carolina last year.

Replacements
It's pretty late in the coaching change game for NU to find possible replacements for Norvell outside of the staff. Though, they may try. Looking at the current staff, Shawn Watson is the most obvious replacement since he has experience as an offensive coordinator - the job he held at Colorado from 2000-2005, where he was the architect of "62-36" over NU.

Get Used To It
Because of the amazing run of staff loyalty under Tom Osborne, changes in the coaching staff are something many NU fans are not accustomed to. Though, maybe the transition under Solich, and then from Solich to Callahan has thickened our skin some. Regardless, this is something we need to get used to. The job market - in nearly all professions, including coaching - is just a lot more fluid than a generation ago. Both employers and employees keep their own self interests much more front loaded now. And, everyone tends to do what they think is best for them. In college football, I think it is really a matter of keeping the continuity with your head coach, and coming to accept change with the assistants. You don't have to look much farther than Bob Stoops' staff at Oklahoma for a really good example.

Related: Rivals attributes three recruits from the class of 2007 to Norvell.

More coverage elsewhere: Bruins Nation, Double Extra Point, Corn Nation, Omaha World Herald, Lincoln Journal Star

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