Chow as Utah OC?!?!

[BoylenOver]

I do think the SC comparisons may be a bit premature. When Utah has a roster that looked like the one that Norm had when he was at SC, then maybe.

The Utah situation for Chow falls in-between SC and UCLA. His wild success and abject failure at the respective L.A. schools don't really apply to the Utah situation. He'll never have the talent of those Trojan teams, but he won't have the in-fighting or pox of the Bruin teams, either.

[cougjunkie]

Why are BYU fans so down on NoCho? Where is the loyalty? Do you also want Sarkisian to fail in his career? Did you boo him when UW came to the stadium last season?

Who would you rather have as OC...Norm or Doman? I wonder who Jake would rather have as OC?

If Whit can bring in the right talent, Norm will really help Utah out, I believe (not necessarily in season 1, of course...these things take time).

One thing that Norm really has going for him this time....while Whit is definitely a talented HC, he does not have the gravitas to boss Norm around. Norm has been an institution in the state of Utah for decades. Whit just came on the scene. I think Whit would be smart to back off and let Norm run his own show. Norm and Pete butted heads frequently and ultimately, Norm was the odd man out. Pete was the King of LA, what could Norm do? Same when he was at BYU under LaVell. And, to a large extent, Bruin fans view Hermie the same way...he is one of their own, Norm is the outsider.

Finally, Norm is no longer an outsider and he is coaching alongside a coach that does not completely overshadow him in his own backyard. Let's see what he can do. I think he will do well.

I do think the SC comparisons may be a bit premature. When Utah has a roster that looked like the one that Norm had when he was at SC, then maybe.

That might be the problem Norm has butted heads with people everywhere he has gone including Jeff Fisher and Bud Adams the owner of the Titans. I agree he is a huge upgrade over what they have. But I think this is a short term deal with Norm as he is up there in age and he hates the snow. Also UCLA and Utah have similar talent levels and if you look at recruiting rankings the edge actually goes to UCLA. Norm was not successful at UCLA at all.

Last year his offense was ranked 100th and his passing offense was 116th.

[CJF]

If Whit can bring in the right talent, Norm will really help Utah out, I believe (not necessarily in season 1, of course...these things take time).

This is one thing that would make me nervous if I was a Utah fan. While I think Chow will be very successful at Utah, this move almost seems like a concession that next year will be a rebuilding year. Not exactly the way to go into a new conference. I was truly hoping Utah would go in and win their division. It would legitimize the last few years of the MWC in my opinion. Anyway, completely going in a different direction just before the end of the recruiting period is very risky. However, I don't think Utah will struggle converting spread players into pro-style players. If the OL is there and they can run the ball and protect Wynn, you really can run whatever offense you want and be successful.

[TripletDaddy]

The Utah situation for Chow falls in-between SC and UCLA. His wild success and abject failure at the respective L.A. schools don't really apply to the Utah situation. He'll never have the talent of those Trojan teams, but he won't have the in-fighting or pox of the Bruin teams, either.

How would you assess Utah's current talent compared to UCLA? Honestly, I dont think Utah has as good as roster, if anything it is comparable. The QB situation is tenuous at best.

Norm and Whit will need some time to build it together, but as I said before, I do think it just became much easier to bring in a solid QB to SLC. In fact, here is a prediction for everyone, I might be hanging myself with this much rope here, but I predict that under Norm, Utah will bring in the most highly touted HS QB recruit in the school's own history. To clarify, I have no idea how the QB will pan out, but I think that simply having Norm calling plays will allow Whit to bring in the highest ranked HS QB recruit the Utes have ever nabbed. WHO'S WITH ME!!!!!????!!!!

[UteStar]

But I think this is a short term deal with Norm as he is up there in age and he hates the snow.

I think that this is what it is. I see Chow being at Utah for 3-4 years or so, brings along Roderick or someone on the staff to take over for him and rides away quietly into the sunset as Utah is celebrating its 1st national championship in 2015.

[TripletDaddy]

I think that this is what it is. I see Chow being at Utah for 3-4 years or so, brings along Roderick or someone on the staff to take over for him and rides away quietly into the sunset as Utah is celebrating its 1st national championship in 2015.

I see this as a definite possibility, as Utah will be clear favorites in men's skiing for years to come.

[Tone Loc]

I am not making a judgment on Chow, just throwing out some stats.

I was only able to find stats from 2003, I didnt look that hard though.

Yards/game and ppg rankings since then.

2003 - 17th, 6th USC
2004 - 13th, 6th USC
2005 - 17th, 21st ( First year with Titans)
2006 - 27th, 16th
2007 - 21st, 22nd
2008 - 112th, 104th (first year with UCLA)
2009 - 88th, 94th
2010 - 100th, 104th

in 2005, first year without Chow, USC went to 1st and 2nd.
In 2008, the Titans went to 21st and 14th.

[MartyFunkhouser]

That might be the problem Norm has butted heads with people everywhere he has gone including Jeff Fisher and Bud Adams the owner of the Titans. I agree he is a huge upgrade over what they have. But I think this is a short term deal with Norm as he is up there in age and he hates the snow. Also UCLA and Utah have similar talent levels and if you look at recruiting rankings the edge actually goes to UCLA. Norm was not successful at UCLA at all.

Last year his offense was ranked 100th and his passing offense was 116th.

This is absolutely a short term move. I don't think you hire a 64 year old offensive coordinator with the expectation that he is there for 10 years. The Utah offensive staff is in desperate need of an experienced offensive mind. Not only that the staff desperately needs a strong personality as the offensive coordinator. Whittingham and Chow are going to butt heads and that is probably a good thing right now. Whittingham needs to learn that it is time for him to give the offense to someone else and focus on the defense.

[cougjunkie]

I was only able to find stats from 2003, I didnt look that hard though.

Yards/game and ppg rankings since then.

2003 - 17th, 6th USC
2004 - 13th, 6th USC
2005 - 17th, 21st ( First year with Titans)
2006 - 27th, 16th
2007 - 21st, 22nd
2008 - 112th, 104th (first year with UCLA)
2009 - 88th, 94th
2010 - 100th, 104th

in 2005, first year without Chow, USC went to 1st and 2nd.
In 2008, the Titans went to 21st and 14th.

So at UCLA he has been horrible with similar talent to Utah. At USC and with the Titans they actually got better when he left.

[cougjunkie]

I think that this is what it is. I see Chow being at Utah for 3-4 years or so, brings along Roderick or someone on the staff to take over for him and rides away quietly into the sunset as Utah is celebrating its 1st national championship in 2015.

What about Davis are they grooming him under CHow?

[MartyFunkhouser]

So at UCLA he has been horrible with similar talent to Utah. At USC and with the Titans they actually got better when he left.

Do you honestly think that Chow had control of the offense at UCLA? Do you really think that Chow made the decision to install the pistol offense? In Tennessee he was not given his choice at QB. None of these jobs gave him full control over the offense. I'm assuming that Whittingham is giving him full control in making his move, if he is not, it is a mistake.

[cougjunkie]

Do you honestly think that Chow had control of the offense at UCLA? Do you really think that Chow made the decision to install the pistol offense? In Tennessee he was not given his choice at QB. None of these jobs gave him full control over the offense. I'm assuming that Whittingham is giving him full control in making his move, if he is not, it is a mistake.

Whit has to big of an ego to do that.

[UteStar]

What about Davis are they grooming him under CHow?

Could be. But, I am not sure who they are grooming. If Roderick sticks around, I would lean toward him...but who knows.

I just checked out Davis' resume and it is solid:

7 years at Utah - Coaching offensive line
3 years at USC - Coaching Offensive line
2 years for the Miami Dolphins - Coaching offensive line
1 year at Alabama as Director of Player Personnel
2 years at Minnesota - Assistant Coach, Line/Running Game coach

Good experiences, no question. I have not reviewed those teams under him to see how they all performed, so I can't really comment on that. All of those jobs are steps up - Utah to USC to the NFL back to Alabama. The Minnesota one was different, and I am not sure what it meant. I will be curious to see what his role will be at Utah and if they see something bigger for him down the road.

[Sizzle]

Do you honestly think that Chow had control of the offense at UCLA? Do you really think that Chow made the decision to install the pistol offense? In Tennessee he was not given his choice at QB. None of these jobs gave him full control over the offense. I'm assuming that Whittingham is giving him full control in making his move, if he is not, it is a mistake.

Whit is a great coach, but one thing he is is a micromanager. It'll be interesting to see how the two mesh.

FWIW, if they can get along, I think it's a great hire, though like everyone has said, definitely short term.

[MartyFunkhouser]

Whit has to big of an ego to do that.

You don't make this decision if you aren't able to put your ego aside to a certain extent. You are right though, Whittingham has a pretty big ego just like every good coach in the country. Urban Meyer also had a huge ego and he pretty much handed the defense over to Whittingham without interfering in it. I'm hoping that Utah's offensive struggles have convinced Whittingham that he needs to follow Urban's example.