Check this Twitter thread on Norvell by Doc Harper...

quote:

---

We all know their records by now, but I was curious how they did relative to expectations, efficiencies, close games, etc. They're both pretty strong, but I think Norvell has the edge.

---

quote:

---

Memphis outperformed expectations this year by a significant margin (2 wins better than they probably should've gotten). Plus they got better as the year went on, playing 4 of their best games the last 4 weeks of the regular season.

---

quote:

---

For example, Memphis got blown out by Central Florida in September, but took them into OT in the conference championship game. That's progress, even if it didn't mean a W.

---

quote:

---

Also, in the last 2 years, both coaches played in 8 1-possession games, one of Bielema's many achilles heels. Norvell went 6-2 and Morris was 4-4. May not be significant, but still.

---

quote:

---

Both scored big upsets over a good Houston team coached by Tom Herman in 2016. Memphis also got UCLA this year. Don't appear to be any inexplicable, unexpected ugly losses for either.

---

quote:

---

Both have big offensies. Memphis is more explosive. SMU more efficient. Memphis a bit better at finishing drives, but that may be more talent-related. Both have ugly-arse defenses.

---

quote:

---

Defense would obviously be a big question for either if they get the job. Especially considering Arkansas' - let's say - bad defensive play over the last couple of years.

---

quote:

---

'm not sure I buy that Morris would bring in some magical crop of Texas recruits. He'll bring in more than Arkansas' had in several years, but what quality will they be?

---

quote:

---

I don't see why any head coach couldn't hire some good Texas recruiters and be able to recruit Texas. I think Bielema's problem with it was he never really understood how important that was. He thought he could recruit Florida the way he needed to recruit Texas.

---

quote:

---

I just don’t see how you can put Norvell up against Morris and come up with Morris as the better coach. All of the numbers point to Norvell including recruiting

---

Morris has shown he can take a really bad team and trend it in the right direction. Norvell hasn't had the opportunity, since he took over a program in good shape (sounds familiar, right?).

Morris has experience as an OC at Clemson - it's not SEC experience, but it's about as close as you can get without being in the SEC. Experience scheming against SEC level athletes is huge. I can't see Norvell not having a huge learning curve there.

And obviously the Texas high school ties.

None of these things show up if you're just comparing numbers, but they're big factor in why I'd take Morris over Norvell.