Norm Chow and Tim Davis to Utah

Though not confirmed yet, the rumor, first reported by Tom Dienhart of rivals.com is that Utah is expected to hire Norm Chow and Tim Davis as offensive coordinator and offensive line coach, respectively.

When I first heard the rumor by way of a telephone call from my cousin, I did not believe it. Two months ago (probably as we were watching Utah get humiliated by TCU at home) my brother first put the possibility of Norm Chow coming to Utah into my head. Indeed, each time in the next couple of months that we watched Utah's offense sputter we would bring it up again. It seemed like a pipe dream even though, in our minds, it was a move that made sense for both parties. For Utah, they would an experienced and talented offensive mind that in addition to that, understands the PAC-12. Chow would bring knowledge of how to prepare for each PAC-12 team that no one on Utah's staff has. For Chow, it would be a chance to settle a few scores (and I would like to thank my brother for pointing the following out to me). At BYU in the late 90s, it seemed logical that Chow would have some role in BYU's football program after the departure of legendary coach LaVell Edwards. It did not turn out that way and his departure from BYU turned out to be somewhat bitter. While at USC, Chow interviewed for the Stanford head coaching job but was not given the position. A three-year stint with the Tennessee Titans of the NFL followed. In 2008, Chow arrived at UCLA with Rick Neuheisel to be the offensive coordinator. Three years, average to awful offenses, and unmet expectations have been the norm under the Neuheisel regime and Chow has been set up as a scapegoat. With Neuheisel's heart set upon instilling the pistol offense and Chow being in favor of a pro-style, QB-under-center type of system, heads have butted and it just has not worked out. Now, it appears that Chow will be released from that position. Coming to Utah, Chow would have a chance to show at least three schools in the PAC-12 what they missed on. Now, I am hesitant to label Norm Chow as one who is interested in settling scores or getting the last laugh but at Utah he would get this opportunity regardless.

For the most part, I can see nothing negative about this hiring. Any unfounded fear that Chow is washed up is calmed by the fact that a washed up Norm Chow is much better than the offensive staff that Utah currently employs. I would also add that a washed up Norm Chow is better than Utah's previous (and highly underrated and unappreciated in his time here) offensive coordinator Andy Ludwig. Ludwig's last year was 2008, which of course was the year that Utah went undefeated, capping it off with a BCS beatdown of Alabama. In the PAC-12, Utah has attained automatic-qualifying status, which makes the route to returning to that 2008 pinnacle much more clear: be the PAC-12 champion. Chow's experience will help in every regard. I personally do no feel that Chow is washed up. The struggles of UCLA can be attributed at least in part to lack of cohesion on the coaching staff. Add UCLA's goal of implementing the pistol offense as well. Chow has made a living on producing NFL-ready quarterbacks that played from under-center and became proficient in throwing the ball. The pistol offense has the quarterback almost exclusively in a shotgun formation.

In my view the worst case scenario is that Norm Chow throws his weight around too much at Utah, disrupts the coaching chemistry and is fired in a year or two. The most likely scenario is that Chow comes in, provides Utah with invaluable help in adjusting to life in the PAC-12, trains a young offensive staff, presides over some quality offenses and in a few years moves on. The best-case scenario: Chow gets back to his old ways, implements a new offensive system at Utah, and after 2-3 years in the program starts churning out NFL-caliber QBs and high powered offenses and helps vault Utah to the upper-echelon of the PAC-12.

Also, the hiring of Tim Davis cannot be understated. The offensive coordinator will get all the publicity but at the heart of every good offense is a solid offensive line.