Let's Chow Down!

Utah fans rejoice! Even if it's only rumor, it looks solid. Norm Chow, a University of Utah alum, may be coming home to be the OC. First, let's say why it's rumor. Norm Chow is owed over 1 million dollars from UCLA and is under contract for another year. Also, the highest paid assistant coach on the Utah staff is Coach Sataki at $165,000. So there may be some trouble getting to his pay scale. There is a loophole Utah may be able to exploit though. If Coach Chow gets hired while still under contract from UCLA, UCLA pays the difference between the 2 contracts. So, while Utah isn't making any conference money this next year, they can set up the contract to pay him less this year and have a gradual increase over the next few years and neither party loses anything.

Now lets talk about why it may be a solid story already. First, there has been well documented strife between UCLA head coach Rick Neuheisel concerning the offense this year. Rick wanted to institute the "Pistol" and Chow loves a pro style, west coast offense. Secondly, UCLA is rumored to be hiring Mike Johnson, Offensive Coordinator from the 49ers to the same position at UCLA. What that means is the either Norm Chow would have to step down into a position coach, or leave the program. Third, and most distressingly to me, is that BYU is rumored to have contacted Aaron Roderick about an unknown coaching position within it's program. The reason that's distressing to me is that I like Coack A-Rod and think he could do a good job with more experience. As I said a couple weeks ago, I like his play calling until he panics and gets conservative. What better experience could you get than being tutored by someone who has coached at BYU in various positions for over 20 years, than went to USC for 2 national championships, coached in the NFL during the only season Vince Young actually looked like a QB and back at UCLA over the past 3 years? You can't get better than that.

This rumor goes beyond my wildest hopes for what Utah could get as an OC with experience and I really hope it goes down. It would be great for not only the Utah program, but also Jordan Wynn and the rest of the offense as well.

On another note, Utah did hire Tim Davis as the new offensive line coach today. Davis played at Utah and has coached for Nick Saban both in Miami and at Alabama and was at Minnesota this last year. It's a big name hire for a first year Pac-12 school and I'm stoked at the direction of the program.

On another note, I'd love to see what Harvey Langi could do in a pro style offense. Man, GO UTES!