Outgoing Memphis coach Mike Norvell will not coach the Tigers in the Cotton Bowl, instead transitioning immediately to his job as Florida State’s head coach.
Memphis will face Penn State on Dec. 28 in Arlington, Texas.
In a letter to the Memphis community, Norvell said the short timeframe for game preparation and recruiting at Florida State impacted his decision.
“As I have told the team throughout my time, you give everything you have each and every day to the best of your ability focused on your CLIMB, and I could not stand in front of them without being able to prepare to the level they deserve,” Norvell wrote.
Offensive line coach Ryan Silverfield, who was named the interim head coach, will coach Memphis in the Cotton Bowl.
Odell Haggins, the interim head coach at Florida State, will coach the Seminoles in the Sun Bowl against Arizona State, though Norvell will be part of the preparation.
