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Crowton to talk with BYU on Monday
LAKE FOREST, Ill. (AP) -- Hoping to wrap up their search for a new coach by the end of the week, BYU officials have asked Chicago Bears offensive coordinator Gary Crowton to meet with them Wednesday. Crowton will fly to Utah after practice Wednesday, Bears coach Dick Jauron said Monday. "The only thing that we know is that I think we will have a conclusion to the story relatively soon. BYU clearly wants to get an answer," Jauron said. "They need to meet face-to-face, which indicates they're at a point where they want a decision. "It also indicates that he's probably one of the top candidates, if not the top candidate, for the job." Crowton appears to be a perfect fit for the job vacated by LaVell Edwards, who retired at the end of the season after 29 years at BYU. Crowton began his coaching career as a student assistant at BYU in 1982, serving under then-quarterbacks coach Mike Holmgren. He's been a head coach at the college level before, leading Louisiana Tech to a 21-13 record in three years. His pro-style passing offense was one of the most potent in the nation, piling up 542 yards a game in 1998. Crowton, a Mormon who hails from Provo, Utah, also is close friends with BYU athletic director Val Hale. "Not that I'm aware of," Duff Tittle, BYU's associate athletic director, said when asked if the school plans to meet with anyone else. "Not somebody coming from out of state. Maybe some internal candidates." While the Bears still have three games left to play, speculation that Crowton is leaving for BYU has been rampant for weeks. Crowton, Jauron and the players are asked about it regularly. Jauron has even been asked who he'd name to replace Crowton. "Obviously, there is a level of distraction, because you can't ignore the issue. The issue exists," Jauron said. "But as I said last week, I think Gary and BYU have done a good job of keeping it to as minor a distraction as possible. But it does exist. There's no way I can't think about that to some degree. "But I don't think that's been a factor." And it should be over soon. Tittle said BYU hopes to offer the job or have a deal formalized by the end of the week. Jauron said he expects something could happen even earlier. "I would anticipate by the middle of this week we would have a conclusion to this thing," Jauron said.
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