After his name was floated as a candidate the last two times the job was open, Mike Norvell had a much different perspective of the Arkansas coaching search this year.
While navigating the hot seat himself, the sixth-year Florida State coach watched from afar as one of his prized pupils and successor at Memphis landed the Razorbacks’ gig.
Ryan Silverfield served as Norvell’s offensive line coach with the Tigers from 2016-19, the only assistant who remained on staff throughout his entire tenure that included a pair of top-25 finishes.
Even though he never coached at Arkansas, Norvell’s connections to the Natural State — starring as a receiver at UCA and marrying a girl from Fort Smith who still has family in the area — made him especially proud for his friend and former assistant.