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UT football: Watson demoted as play-caller

AUSTIN — Texas’ worst opening-day loss in 27 years has its first fall guy.

Longhorns coach Charlie Strong announced Tuesday that Shawn Watson will no longer handle offensive play-calling duties. That job will go to wide receivers coach Jay Norvell, who spent seven years at Oklahoma and four years as the Sooners’ offensive coordinator.

Watson had been UT’s primary play-caller — working with offensive line coach Joe Wickline — all of last season and through last week’s blowout loss at Notre Dame. Strong said Norvell will be UT’s sole play-caller moving forward.

The Longhorns ranked among the nation’s worst offensive teams in 2014, and accumulated fewer yards in this year’s opener than any team in Division I FBS.