Chow as Utah OC?!?!

[old_gregg]

norm chow is going to look to put 85 on ucla. neuheisel better get his shit together for that game. i won't root for a utah win very often, but i hope that ucla gets absolutely embarrassed for acting the way they have.

[SeattleUte]

Does this recent issue with UCLA make Ute fans nervous at all? If I understand correctly, you already have a budget mess with Boylen. Now you're picking up a guy who may be on the decline, but has shown that he wants his promised money. Seems a little risky.

No. And please take your ageism elsewhere. He isn't that old anyway.

[BoylenOver]

Does this recent issue with UCLA make Ute fans nervous at all? If I understand correctly, you already have a budget mess with Boylen. Now you're picking up a guy who may be on the decline, but has shown that he wants his promised money. Seems a little risky.

The reason why Chow wasn't announced as Utah's OC 2 weeks ago is he (and Utah) were waiting for a UCLA buyout. They got it, and now that will alleviate some of his salary.

Utah's track record of developing talent over the last decade is much stronger than UCLA's. Combined with the fact that Whit will not seek control over the offense like Neuheisel did, and Chow will be able to run his offense (for good or ill).

Pasadena is the only college stop on Chow's resume that wasn't a rousing success.

[ewth8tr]

Here's what I hope is true (and it's all conjecture):

• Because Chow has known Kyle and the Whittingham family for a long time, Norm's famous prickly personality will not be an issue
  
• Chow really wants to make a go of things at Utah and intends to stick around for 5 years or so, and isn't just marking time in a last job before retirement
  
• Chow can be a mentor to guys like A-Rod and Brian Johnson, who are fools if they don't try to soak up as much as they can from Norm
  
• This means our offense will no longer be the chewing gum and string contraption it seemed to be last year
  
• We'll be able to attract some serious offensive talent because of Chow's presence

We'll see. This definitely will be an improvement.

So who is out to make room for Chow? And if it is not Brian Johnson, What position does BJ coach?

[Maximus]

The reason why Chow wasn't announced as Utah's OC 2 weeks ago is he (and Utah) were waiting for a UCLA buyout. They got it, and now that will alleviate some of his salary.

Utah's track record of developing talent over the last decade is much stronger than UCLA's. Combined with the fact that Whit will not seek control over the offense like Neuheisel did, and Chow will be able to run his offense (for good or ill).

Pasadena is the only college stop on Chow's resume that wasn't a rousing success.

Didnt do so well at Tennessee either, but before that yes.

[SeattleUte]

Didnt do so well at Tennessee either, but before that yes.

Hey sport, d'ya think it had something to do with the head coaches?

[BoylenOver]

Didnt do so well at Tennessee either, but before that yes.

Like I said, Pasadena is the only college stop that hasn't been successful.

[LA Ute]

So who is out to make room for Chow? And if it is not Brian Johnson, What position does BJ coach?

Beats me. I hope Brian gets a chance to stay on and learn.

[NorthwestUteFan]

So who is out to make room for Chow? And if it is not Brian Johnson, What position does BJ coach?

The D-line coach (John Pease) already retired, so the addition of Norm Chow makes 9 assistants.

I hope BJ will absorb every possible ounce of experience and knowledge out of Chow he can possibly gain over the next few seasons. Even if BJ doesn't stay at Utah, I like him very much and want him to be successful. My brother knows him fairly well and I have met him several times. All of my kids have BJ-autographed shirts.

Norm has a solid track record of improving players, but he has also developed some very good coaches.

[LA Ute]

Here's the official press release:

http://utahutes.cstv.com/sports/m-fo...012211aaa.html

[ERCougar]

No. And please take your ageism elsewhere. He isn't that old anyway.

Absolutely nothing to do with ageism, and everything to do with ranking 100+ in the major offensive categories this year. And yes, it may be due to injuries or Neuheisel. Just saying it seems a little risky.

[BoylenOver]

Absolutely nothing to do with ageism, and everything to do with ranking 100+ in the major offensive categories this year. And yes, it may be due to injuries or Neuheisel. Just saying it seems a little risky.

What's "risky" about it? That we're seriously upgrading at the OC position? That UCLA is paying part of his salary?

I can understand the argument that Chow isn't the same OC that helped usher in a decade of dominance for USC, or developed NFL QB after NFL QB at BYU in the '80's. But we don't lose a thing bringing him in.

[LA Ute]

Absolutely nothing to do with ageism, and everything to do with ranking 100+ in the major offensive categories this year. And yes, it may be due to injuries or Neuheisel. Just saying it seems a little risky.

We prefer to see the glass as 3/4 full.

[BoylenOver]

So who is out to make room for Chow? And if it is not Brian Johnson, What position does BJ coach?

Nobody has to leave, since Pease retired. You let Whittingham coach the defensive line (which he has experience; he was the d-line coach in 1994), and you have Chow take over the OC position with heavy influence on the QB's while BJ continues to grow and mature as a coach.

[Clark Addison]

I think it is only a risk in that there is a risk he will not reach the heights he has in the past, and I guess maybe that you alienate Roderick, if you like him (no idea if this is a large risk, as I don't follow things up on the hill that closely). But it is a no-brainer to bring him in. It's a definite upgrade, and good hire for the Utes.