A success as a football player and coach, Cliff Norvell will also be remembered as one of the finest officials in the Southeastern Conference. Norvell was an umpire and a respected member of the SEC officiating crew and was selected the top umpire in the conference for eighteen years! Norvell and “Red” Cavette started officiating together in 1930, working high school games. In 1945 they became SEC football officials. Cavette retired in 1969 and Cliff in 1975. Norvell began playing his favorite game, football, at Memphis Humes High School. Upon graduating in 1929, he bypassed college and chose a professional career with the old Clarence Saunders Tigers. Norvell was the starting guard and played with the Memphis team until it disbanded in 1935. He helped lead the Tigers to a victory over the Green Bay Packers in 1929. During his pro career, which also included wins over the Chicago Bears and the Chicago Cardinals of the NFL, Norvell often defended against such famed All-Americans as Harold “Red” Grange of the Chicago Bears and Ernie Nevers of Stanford. After the Tigers disbanded, Norvell coached at Catholic High. One of his players, Joe Signaigo, who later became an All-American guard at Notre Dame, said of his coach, “Norvell’s influence was invaluable. I would say that he had more to do with my success than any other person I knew.” Cliff Norvell died in October 1983, leaving a legacy of excellence as a player, official, and coach.
