Norm Chow, the Tennessee Titans offensive coordinator who interviewed for the vacant UCLA head coaching spot in December, was fired Tuesday after a season in which the Titans managed to make the playoffs but the offense struggled.
The firing set off speculation that Chow could be a likely candidate for UCLA’s still-vacant offensive coordinator position. UCLA head coach Rick Neuheisel hasn’t finalized his staff, and offensive coordinator is the biggest position left to be filled.
Neuheisel was recruiting away from campus Tuesday, but a source within the athletic department said a new offensive coordinator could still be named any time this week.
Chow had served as the Titans offensive coordinator since 2005. Before joining the Titans, Chow coached the offense at USC, where he won a national title and saw two of his quarterbacks, Carson Palmer and Matt Leinart, win the Heisman Trophy.
But Chow couldn’t find that success in the NFL. His offense ranked 21st in the NFL this season, despite the presence of quarterback Vince Young.
The Titans were eliminated from the playoffs in a first-round loss at San Diego when the offense scored only six points.
“I appreciate all of the hard work and contributions he made to the organization during his time here, but I have decided to go in a different direction and will start the process of finding a new offensive coordinator,” Titans coach Jeff Fisher said in a statement.
The Los Angeles Times reported that Neuheisel contacted Chow immediately after being named head coach, but because Chow was still under contract with the Titans and the team’s season hadn’t ended, Neuheisel was forced to look elsewhere.
Chow told the Tennessean he did not see Fisher’s decision coming and he does not know what he is going to do next.
MALLETT NOT A BRUIN: The ongoing story of Ryan Mallett’s departure from the University of Michigan isn’t over, but one thing is for sure: The star quarterback is not headed to UCLA.
Sports Illustrated reported Monday that Mallett was enrolled at Arkansas and would transfer there. But on Monday, Mallet’s father, Jim, said no final decision has been made.
“We haven’t made a decision yet, but everybody and their dog is saying my son has done this or that,” Jim Mallett said.
Mallett left Michigan after the school hired head coach Rich Rodriguez, because Rodriguez is known to run a spread offense that features mobile quarterbacks. Mallett is 6 feet, 7 inches tall and known for having perhaps the strongest arm in college football, but he is not especially mobile.
He reportedly had strong interest in UCLA and Tennessee when both schools interviewed former Michigan quarterbacks coach Scott Loeffler, but neither school hired Loeffler. Now Arkansas and Texas A&M are possible destinations, and UCLA is out of the picture.
“I can also tell you we considered UCLA but just decided that’s too far away,” Jim Mallett said.
NOTES: UCLA senior defensive end Bruce Davis will play in the Senior Bowl, not the East-West Shrine Game.
The Senior Bowl will be played Jan. 26 in Mobile, Ala. The game starts at 3 p.m. and will be broadcast on the NFL Network. …
Zebrie Sanders, a four-star high school offensive lineman from Ohio, has been offered a scholarship by UCLA. Sanders was recruited by Bob Palcic when Palcic coached at Wisconsin, and Palcic has continued that recruitment since he joined the UCLA staff this month. …
Former UCLA All-American linebacker and current USC linebackers coach Ken Norton Jr. is reportedly staying at USC. Neuheisel and Norton had been in contact last week about Norton potentially joining the UCLA staff. …
Former UCLA offensive coordinator Jay Norvell has accepted a position coaching the passing game at Oklahoma. Norvell played alongside Oklahoma coach Bob Stoops at Iowa.