Rex Norris (American football)

Oklahoma football fans remember Rex Norris as Barry Switzer’s defensive coordinator between Larry Lacewell and Gary Gibbs. Norris’ old colleagues think of something very different.

“There’s only one Rex Norris,” said Switzer, breaking out a 21st-century OU phrase. “He is crazy.”

Norris, a long-time defensive line coach in both the college and NFL ranks, now is retired, living north of Austin, Texas. He drove up to Waco last Saturday night to join Switzer, fellow former OU assistant Gene Hochevar and a host of Sooner football alums to honor Thomas Lott, who was inducted into the Texas High School Football Hall of Fame.

Hochevar told the story of several coaches taking a trip to Las Vegas. One night, they went to hear Creedence Clearwater Revival, and Norris was obsessed with getting on stage. Didn’t happen.

The next night, the group went to see Liberace. When the show began, Norris was nowhere to be found. Liberace rolled onto the stage in a Rolls Royce and dramatically exited the car. Then Norris, hiding in the floorboard, emerged from the backseat. Security guards quickly grabbed Norris and hauled him off.

Switzer told the story of Norris taking his stepdaughter to Dallas and promising her she could iceskate at the Galleria. The Galleria skating closed at 5 p.m., and Norris and his stepdaughter got to the rink at 4:40, and no one was on the ice.

Norris went to the stand and ordered a certain skate size for the girl. “Sorry,” he was told by the attendant, “we’re closed.”

But it’s 4:40, Norris said. The attendant moved his face closer to Norris’ and said, “it’s closed.”

Norris shot his finger straight into the poor guy’s nostril and lifted his head straight up. “I said I want some skates and I want them now,” Norris said. The girl got to skate until 5 p.m.

Norris joined the OU staff in 1973, Switzer’s first season, and coached 11 years. Then he coached at Arizona State, the Detroit Lions and with Galen Hall at Florida in 1988-89.

In 1990, Switzer got a call from Lacewell, asking Switzer to put in a call to Tennessee coach Johnny Majors on Norris’ behalf. Switzer called Majors and reminded him that years before, Switzer had endorsed Lacewell for a job with Majors and told Majors that someday, Majors would thank Switzer for the recommendation. Switzer told Majors the same thing would happen with Norris. Then Switzer crossed his fingers that Norris “didn’t kill anyone.”

Norris committed no homicides. But he did drive Majors nuts.

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After Norris was hired, Switzer talked to Majors and asked on what floor was his office. Second floor, Majors said.

“Don’t you ever embarrass Rex Norris publicly,” Switzer warned Majors. “Don’t dog-cuss him. Because he will throw your (butt) out that window.” Majors got all serious and said, “You know, he’s got that look in his eyes.”

Two weeks later, Norris called Switzer. “By the way,” Norris said. “Have you talked to Johnny lately?” Yes, Switzer said. “I knew something was up,” Norris said. “Every time he comes down the hall, he avoids me.”

One practice, Norris’ linemen weren’t working the way Majors wanted, so he ordered them to run after practice. When practice ended, Norris sent his troops in without the sprints and ducked into the locker room himself.

Majors, conducting a small press briefing, noticed the d-linemen drifting in and ordered a manager to go get Norris immediately.

The manager found Norris in the shower and adamantly told him Majors wanted to see Norris right then.

So Norris lathered up his shampoo, stepped out of the shadow, put a small towel around his waist, marched through the football complex past the secretaries and walked straight up to Majors on the practice field.

“You want to see me?” Norris said.

Said Majors, “Get out of there.”

Majors often liked to drift away from football during staff meetings and tell his coaches how lucky they were to coach at a place like Tennessee, how beautiful was the state.

One day, Norris got up during a staff meeting and wandered outside onto a balcony. The annoyed Majors finally stopped talking and asked Norris what he was doing.

“I’m just thinking how beautiful this state is,” Norris said. “How really lucky we are to be here. I know we’ve got Alabama this week, but look at those trees.