Doesn't look like Wilson's leaving OU

Oklahoma fans apparently can crawl in off the ledge. The Clarion-Ledger, out of Jackson, Miss., is reporting on its website noonish that Florida offensive coordinator Dan Mullen is expected to be named the next football coach at Mississippi State.

That of course would mean that Sooners' offensive coordinator Kevin Wilson, who on Tuesday night received the Frank Broyles Award as the nation's top assistant--as well he should have--isn't. Which has been cause for much rejoicing in the past hour for hand-wringing OU fans decrying Wilson's loss--as reported by some guy with a laptop in Florida.

In my opinion, Wilson can get a much better position than a BOB (bottom of the barrel) job in the SEC and be forced to live in Starkville, Miss. Now I'm sure Starkville in its own right is a wonderful place to live and raise a family. I've actually been there. But without insulting any of the good folks who I'm sure live there, on the whole I'd rather be in Norman and my guess is so would Wilson, who has five young children.

What if Wilson did leave? The consensus is that Bob Stoops would elevated receivers coach/assistant offensive coordinator Jay Norvell. The former All-Big 10 defensive back at Iowa has three seasons as OC at Nebraska (2004-06) and at UCLA (2007). Both Stoops and Wilson have raved about the job Norvell has done with the WR's, especially his attention to downfield blocking. And Norvell can be forgiven for working for Bozo Bill Callahan at NU. He seems like a nice guy, well-spoken and in reasonable control of his faculties.

What about quarterbacks coach Josh Heupel in a Wilson-departure-scenario? Heupel now has four seasons as a full-fledged assistant and there is no doubt that he has a bright future in the business--something Stoops obviously recognizes. Heupel is both a student of the game as they say and has been invaluable as Sam Bradford's mentor. The guess is that he possibly would follow Wilson for a coordinator's designation, or remain at OU as a newly titled member of the offensive staff with a raise and a chance to develop another young quarterback--freshman Landry Jones--who also has a lot of potential.

Both Wilson and defensive coordinator Brent Venables are solid head-coaching candidates. But they also have two of the best jobs in the country. Money goes a long way in Norman and the quality of life there is one reason Stoops has told me, he still has a local address.--Mike Jones.

Comments

[Jeff]

Kevin is a good man. He'll get a head coaching job soon enough, and hopefully not before the national championship game!