Fight for Iowa Podcast - Jay Norvell
episode
Fight for Iowa – The Official Podcast of Iowa Athletics
9 min
2 speakers
8 chapters
transcribed 2 months ago
Transcript
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Transcript generated automatically by AI and may contain errors.
What is the main topic discussed in this episode?
On the Hawkeyes Sports Network from Learfield, this is the Fight for Iowa podcast. Here's the voice of the Hawkeyes, Gary Dolphin.
How did Jay Norvell's return to Iowa City come about after 40 years?
When Iowa football coach Kirk Ferentz asked Jay Norville to speak to the team's honorary captain prior to last November's Senior Day game with Michigan State, the former star defensive back for Hayden Frye in the 1980s jumped at the opportunity to come back to Iowa City. It was just a few months later when Ferentz brought Norvell in as an offensive analyst. Norvell had been dismissed as the head coach at Colorado State and planned to be back on the sidelines somewhere this fall, but Iowa City was home. He and Ferentz arrived together the same year in 1981. Ferentz, as Iowa's new offensive line coach, and Norvell, a Madison, Wisconsin native, a part of 35 victories in his four-year career, first team All-Big Ten, and Hawkeye, most valuable player his senior season in 1985, when he recorded a league-leading seven interceptions, to go with 76 tackles from the Iowa secondary.
Norvell had no sooner settled into his analyst role when running backs coach Liddell Betts left for the NFL.
Why did Kirk Ferentz elevate Norvell from offensive analyst to running backs coach?
Ferentz, appreciative that Norvell has coached every position group in addition to running his own program, inquired about his interests in the running back post. Norvell was elevated just in time for spring ball and is thrilled to be back full time with fall camp starting in early August.
You know, this has been a really cool few months for me. It's been 40 years since I've really been back here for any length of time. And just to reconnect with so many Hawks and see so many teammates and coaches that I played with and went through some really special times in my life with, it's just really special for me.
You've been a head coach. You're a terrific player at Iowa back in the glory years with Hayden Frye. And you've worked both sides of the line of scrimmage, so sometimes we get caught up.
What coaching experience does Jay Norvell bring from his years as a head coach and coordinator?
And, well, Jay was a great defensive player. Here you are the running backs coach at Iowa. And who knows better on how to handle running backs than a guy that played on the other side of the line of scrimmage?
Yeah, I mean, I just take a lot of pride in being a football man. You know, I've had a lot of amazing experiences. You know, culminating as a head coach. I've been a coordinator at many schools. I've called plays for about the last 12 years. And, no, I've been in charge of a lot of things in the last 40 years. But coached running backs, coached quarterbacks, coached wide receivers, coached tight ends. Been a special teams coordinator. And so and as a head coach, you have to be an expert at everything that your team does. And so I've hired a lot of coaches, interviewed a lot of coaches over the years. And so I'm just I feel very comfortable coaching the running backs. Kirk came to me and and asked me if I'd like to do it.
And I said, absolutely. And we got great kids. And it's just tremendous feeling being in a great program with a great head coach that has a vision and great assistants and really, really good players. And so I feel very fortunate.
From Kamari Moulton, the experienced.
Who are the running backs on the roster and how does Norvell describe their strengths?
A guy that can hide in behind those offensive linemen. You can go to a 220-pounder in Xavier. And then you've got McNeil, who's awfully fast. The young man who came in here from South Dakota, the transfer. You've got a lot of options.
Yeah, it's an interesting group. You know, I feel very fortunate. All these guys have played. We've got four backs that have played that have had significant game experience. Kamari's the leader. But they're all different. Xavier Williams, he's about 230 right now. He probably needs to lose a few pounds. You got Nate McNeil, who's more versatile and explosive and fast. And then you got LJ Phillips, who's just a really physical bowling ball type of a running back. And so it'll be interesting to see how it plays out. I think we'll be able to keep guys healthy and fresh. But we'll also be able to use guys in packages which can really utilize their strengths. So I'm excited to work with this group.
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Chapters
8 chapters
1
What is the main topic discussed in this episode?
0:00–0:11
2
How did Jay Norvell's return to Iowa City come about after 40 years?
0:11–1:11
3
Why did Kirk Ferentz elevate Norvell from offensive analyst to running backs coach?
1:11–2:00
4
What coaching experience does Jay Norvell bring from his years as a head coach and coordinator?
2:00–3:20
5
Who are the running backs on the roster and how does Norvell describe their strengths?
3:20–4:37
6
How does Norvell view the relationship between Iowa’s offensive line and the running backs?
4:37–6:15
7
What lessons from Hayden Fry and Kirk Ferentz define the 'Iowa way' according to Norvell?
6:15–8:16
8
What upcoming season details and team leadership notes are highlighted for Hawkeye football?
8:16–9:30