Anae's personality

[falafel]

I watched a lot more during Chow's tenure than this year. I only saw three games this year.

I haven't seen what I would consider horrible play calling. He had byu's best RB in history, which makes his job easier.

I find it odd how Ute fans are blaming A-Rod for Utah's late season dive and byu fans have never seemed to like Anae.

And best WR and best TE, and a very steady QB.

[Shaka]

I don't get the Cougarfan hatred for Anae. Of course I didn't get the hatred for Chow either.
I don't see anything wrong with the playcalling.

Chow played politics more than any other BYU coach I can remember. If you weren't on of his guys you simply did not get a chance. The last few years of his time at BYU Chow became downright predictable.

[jay santos]

Chow played politics more than any other BYU coach I can remember. If you weren't on of his guys you simply did not get a chance. The last few years of his time at BYU Chow became downright predictable.

Give me a couple examples of guys that Chow played over guys that were better but weren't one of "his guys".

[SteelBlue]

Gurney tweeted something today about possibly losing a recruit due to all of these coaching rumors. Has anyone figured out who he was talking about?

[falafel]

Gurney tweeted something today about possibly losing a recruit due to all of these coaching rumors. Has anyone figured out who he was talking about?

It looks like its Sam Meredith, a 3-star TE from socal. He hasn't committed to anyone, but was leaning towards BYU. Also considering SDSU and Utah.

[Shaka]

Give me a couple examples of guys that Chow played over guys that were better but weren't one of "his guys".

It's been a long time so citing examples would be iffy at best. That was my era and I can state what was generally known about Chow. I knew players, some of them starters, that didn't care much for the guy. No I will not name them. Chow was definitely a polarizing figure during his time at BYU.

[SoCalCoug]

Give me a couple examples of guys that Chow played over guys that were better but weren't one of "his guys".

John Walsh over Ryan Hancock, as stated to me by a scout team QB at the time. He told me everyone knew Hancock was better than Walsh, but Norm started Walsh because he was "his" guy.

[jay santos]

It's been a long time so citing examples would be iffy at best. That was my era and I can state what was generally known about Chow. I knew players, some of them starters, that didn't care much for the guy. No I will not name them. Chow was definitely a polarizing figure during his time at BYU.

John Walsh over Ryan Hancock, as stated to me by a scout team QB at the time. He told me everyone knew Hancock was better than Walsh, but Norm started Walsh because he was "his" guy.

Chow was an asshole especially at the end of his BYU career. I'm sure many of his players hated him. The ol' "that coach plays politics and didn't play my (favorite player, friend, brother, self, whatever)" is the oldest criticism in the book. I rarely believe it when it's applied to little leaguers and I never believe it when it's applied to college or professional coaches. Coaches want to win. They're not interested in playing politics.

Maybe Chow was not great at identifying talent, but I'm not sure I buy that either. Feterik wasn't great but Shoemaker, Miller, Engemann, etc were a lot worse. We didn't have any NFL running backs or receivers wasting away on the bench during that time period. And I would have started Walsh over Hancock, too.

This is not a Chow defense. Maybe he needed to go. I just don't believe the playing politics things.

[falafel]

Chow was an asshole especially at the end of his BYU career. I'm sure many of his players hated him. The ol' "that coach plays politics and didn't play my (favorite player, friend, brother, self, whatever)" is the oldest criticism in the book. I rarely believe it when it's applied to little leaguers and I never believe it when it's applied to college or professional coaches. Coaches want to win. They're not interested in playing politics.

Maybe Chow was not great at identifying talent, but I'm not sure I buy that either. Feterik wasn't great but Shoemaker, Miller, Engemann, etc were a lot worse. We didn't have any NFL running backs or receivers wasting away on the bench during that time period. And I would have started Walsh over Hancock, too.

This is not a Chow defense. Maybe he needed to go. I just don't believe the playing politics things.

He could have played politics and you would never have noticed because the talent wasn't there. That doesn't mean he should (allegedly) be allowed to do it.

[Shaka]

Chow was an asshole especially at the end of his BYU career. I'm sure many of his players hated him. The ol' "that coach plays politics and didn't play my (favorite player, friend, brother, self, whatever)" is the oldest criticism in the book. I rarely believe it when it's applied to little leaguers and I never believe it when it's applied to college or professional coaches. Coaches want to win. They're not interested in playing politics.

Jay I've been around sports enough that I know the distinction between little league politics and college politics.

[SoCalCoug]

Chow was an asshole especially at the end of his BYU career. I'm sure many of his players hated him. The ol' "that coach plays politics and didn't play my (favorite player, friend, brother, self, whatever)" is the oldest criticism in the book. I rarely believe it when it's applied to little leaguers and I never believe it when it's applied to college or professional coaches. Coaches want to win. They're not interested in playing politics.

That's why I tend to believe this guy. He was about 5'7", but very fast, and had no aspirations to see the field during a live game. I don't know how more objective you can get than that.

I think believing coaches don't play politics is more naive than seeing politics in little league. But people don't like to admit (even to themselves) that they were wrong, and when someone beats out a guy you put a lot of effort into bringing into the program, it's going to be really hard to admit you made a mistake.

I like Norm, but I think he gets way more credit as an offensive coordinator than is warranted. Unless Cougarstats is wrong on this, Norm only became the co-offensive coordinator with Roger French in 1996, at least in title. He was QB/WR coach for most of the years before that, going back to the late '70's. Maybe it was in title only, and he was really calling the plays before that, but I just don't have the knowledge or memory to dispute Cougarstats.

By the way, in the three seasons Norm was the sole offensive coordinator in title, BYU's record was 6-5, 9-5, and 8-4.

Now, until I'd checked Cougarstats, I'd always been under the impression that Norm was calling the plays for years. Maybe someone can confirm from actual memory.

[jay santos]

That's why I tend to believe this guy. He was about 5'7", but very fast, and had no aspirations to see the field during a live game. I don't know how more objective you can get than that.

I think believing coaches don't play politics is more naive than seeing politics in little league. But people don't like to admit (even to themselves) that they were wrong, and when someone beats out a guy you put a lot of effort into bringing into the program, it's going to be really hard to admit you made a mistake.

I like Norm, but I think he gets way more credit as an offensive coordinator than is warranted. Unless Cougarstats is wrong on this, Norm only became the co-offensive coordinator with Roger French in 1996, at least in title. He was QB/WR coach for most of the years before that, going back to the late '70's. Maybe it was in title only, and he was really calling the plays before that, but I just don't have the knowledge or memory to dispute Cougarstats.

By the way, in the three seasons Norm was the sole offensive coordinator in title, BYU's record was 6-5, 9-5, and 8-4.

Now, until I'd checked Cougarstats, I'd always been under the impression that Norm was calling the plays for years. Maybe someone can confirm from actual memory.

Starting at least the post-Detmer era, Chow might has well been the head coach. Lavell didn't even know his player's names by that point. Chow did everything. I wouldn't be surprised if Chow was calling the shots on what coaches to hire and which players to play on the defense, too. French was never co-anything (except for maybe in name only). He was OL coach.

[KillerDog]

Starting at least the post-Detmer era, Chow might has well been the head coach. Lavell didn't even know his player's names by that point. Chow did everything. I wouldn't be surprised if Chow was calling the shots on what coaches to hire and which players to play on the defense, too. French was never co-anything (except for maybe in name only). He was OL coach.

I looked into this one time because of what Cougarstats says. It is very unclear when Chow became OC. It is clear he was QB coach but not that he was OC until sometime in the 90s. I'm sure there was some maneuvering regarding titles and the salaries that came with the titles.

BTW, Lavell always knew his players names. I saw Lavell once and I was walking with a late 90s scout team member. Lavell stopped us and talked to him. Asked him about his wife (by name) and about his studies (by major). This kid probably was on the scout team in 97 and we saw Lavell in 2008.

[old_gregg]

Starting at least the post-Detmer era, Chow might has well been the head coach. Lavell didn't even know his player's names by that point. Chow did everything. I wouldn't be surprised if Chow was calling the shots on what coaches to hire and which players to play on the defense, too. French was never co-anything (except for maybe in name only). He was OL coach.

you have no idea what you're talking about

[Spicy McHaggis]

Chow played politics more than any other BYU coach I can remember. If you weren't on of his guys you simply did not get a chance. The last few years of his time at BYU Chow became downright predictable.

Chow may have been predictable but the cause was a general lack of good to great talent. BYU's offense those few seasons had decent players but not great.
As soon as he had USC's talent his offense was unpredictable and unstoppable.

An OC's job is significantly easier when they have talent to work with. It's like Ute fans complaining about A-Rod this year. Aside from Taylor and Schladerauf (sp?), Utah didn't have anyone who was all that good. Once Utah ran into decent defenses at the end of the season, the offense came back to earth.