Video version: Norm Parker

Iowa defensive coordinator Norm Parker is always a good interview. Wish we had more than two or three chances a year.

He talked Friday about Georgia Tech (you can tell he's been studying), his health and future. It's not on video but will be part of another post, but he also discussed leaving early for the NFL draft. He didn't name names, but he's dead set against it. He wants his players to know what they're getting into.

Iowa defensive coordinator Norm Parker breaks down the Yellow Jackets' triple-option "flexbone" offense during a news conference Friday, Dec. 18 at the Hayden Fry Football Complex. Parker faced Paul Johnson's triple option in the 1989 Aloha Bowl, when Johnson guided Hawaii and Parker was at Michigan State.

The Iowa defensive coordinator mentions how motion sets things for Georgia Tech's offense and how that's the real guessing game for him and his charges going into the Jan. 5 Orange Bowl. Don't look for the 3-4, either. Norm really respects the work of his D-line. He doesn't want to take out any of those guys.

The defensive coordinator was reluctant to talk about the health problems that took him off the field for the last four games, but he sort of outlined the toe problem and what that led to. He joked that he fell in a snow bank and needed help getting up the other day. Yes, he'd rather be on the field than in the press box, but knows he's likely coaching the Orange Bowl from upstairs. He plans to be back next season and doesn't want to be the guy who slows things down.