Nov. 27, 2000

By BRADY BINGHAM
Standard-Examiner

CHICAGO - Chicago Bears offensive coordinator Gary Crowton is considered a lock to become LaVell Edwards' successor as head football coach at Brigham Young University.

In fact, on Thanksgiving Day, several media outlets reported that Crowton had indeed been offered and had accepted the job. However, Crowton and BYU athletic director Val Hale denied the reports and have insisted that a decision has not been made.

For the first time since August, when Edwards announced this would be his final season and the rumors of his replacement began to circulate, Crowton spoke publicly about his future to several members of the Chicago media.

"I do think (BYU is) going to need to know (soon), because of what's going to happen," Crowton told the Chicago Sun Times. "Right now, I haven't come to that point yet and I've made no decision even in my own mind ... on what I'm going to do."

Hale has said he would prefer to have a coach in place as soon after the season as possible to avoid recruiting disadvantages. The Cougars' season ended Saturday with a dramatic, come- from-behind, 31-24 victory over the University of Utah in Edwards' final game as head coach.

Crowton, a 43-year-old offensive guru, said he'd prefer to complete his second season as a coordinator with the Bears.

"I want to finish this season with the Bears. I feel honored to be here and I want to make the most of it," said Crowton, whose Bears lost to the New York Jets 17-10 Sunday afternoon and dropped to 3-9 on the season.

"I'm going to finish, unless Dick (Jauron, the Bears' head coach) tells me to go, if that were the case. But, right now, I haven't made that decision of what to do and Dick's been very supportive on everything that's happened."

"I've always wanted to be in the NFL, and I've always wanted to be the head coach at BYU," he said. "When I was little, those are the two things I wanted. I'm not in a hurry to be a head coach in the NFL, but I want to do it someday. I'm not in a hurry to be the head coach at BYU, but I wouldn't mind doing it someday."

Crowton, who was born in Provo and grew up in the area, hinted further to the Chicago Tribune that his interest in the BYU job is real while commenting on family responsibilities.

"Then again, I'm from Utah. My parents are in their late 60s, my wife's parents are in their mid- to late-70s. My grandparents are both alive, and I have four sisters who are married and out there," he said. "I grew up there. There's a lot of history in my life back there. I'm not even sure if BYU is going to offer me the job. But if they do offer me that job and I have to make a decision, that's going to be a very difficult one for me because they are both great opportunities.

"The thing about it is I don't want to continue to move all the time," continued Crowton, who is the father of six children ages seven months to 14 years. "I've moved a lot. I've lived in 15 different houses and I've only been married 15 years. One year I was in three different places. It's not good. You have to think about more than just yourself and your own goals. I have family goals, and the strength of my family is very important to me."

Crowton continues to have his calls screened by his secretary with the Bears and has not answered questions from the Utah media.

If everything goes as expected, he will have his first chance to do just that as early as this week as BYU's new football coach.