UCLA coach Rick Neuheisel received an unexpected phone call in late September.
His team had just been walloped by Texas, but the voice on the other end of the phone was coming off a big win and was calling to thank Neuheisel for teaching him a few things. It was none other than former UCLA offensive coordinator Norm Chow. Chow now serves as Utah’s offensive coordinator, and the former colleagues will be reunited when the two teams square off this weekend. Chow decided to drop his old boss a line following Utah’s 54-10 blowout of BYU.
“He had used one of the concepts I had given to him and scored a few times on it, so he was just calling to say thank you,” Neuheisel said. “I thought it was a great phone call, and it was great to realize that our friendship was more than just sharing office space. It was deeper than that.”
Considering the 15-22 record the pair compiled in Chow’s three years commanding the UCLA offense, their friendship didn’t translate to success on the field. Injuries, inconsistency and a schematic change to the pistol during his last season doomed Chow and limited him from the type of success he enjoyed at BYU and USC where he groomed three Heisman-Trophy-winning quarterbacks.
After last season, Neuheisel overhauled his staff, Chow included, and cited “philosophical differences” between the two offensive minds as the reason things weren’t working out. He said he felt a “change in chemistry” would benefit the team and as such, brought on Mike Johnson and sent Chow on his way to Salt Lake City, where he played offensive guard for the Utes in the ’60s. Chow, however, is still on UCLA’s payroll. The buyout for Chow’s contract amounted to $500,000 according to a Freedom of Information request obtained by the Los Angeles Times.
Regardless of how Chow left the Bruins, they still have nothing but admiration for him.
“I don’t think the reason we didn’t have as much success was at all because of a rift between Norm and I,” Neuheisel said.
“He’s a great coach and a great person,” redshirtjunior quarterback Kevin Prince added. “He became a family friend of ours, and so I wish him the best.”
Chow no longer runs the pistol and has led Utah to a 5-4 record with backup quarterback Jon Hayes, as previous starter Jordan Wynn is sidelined for the season with a shoulder injury.
Unlike Neuheisel, Utah coach Kyle Whittingham comes from a defensive background and has afforded Chow more freedom than the offensive-minded Neuheisel did. While Chow was on UCLA’s staff, he coached the quarterbacks, a position that Neuheisel has taken over this season.
“I tried to give Norm his space because you don’t want to confuse a guy,” Neuheisel said. “I wasn’t perfect at that because sometimes I say what I think.”
Regardless of how ineffective it was a season ago, Chow had a year to study the unique offense that his defense will face this weekend.
“There’s no question that they’ll be talking to Norm about what we do,” Neuheisel said.
By the same token, many of UCLA’s defenders played against Chow’s offense in 2009 practices before Neuheisel mandated the switch.
“We’ve got enough film, and we’ve played against coach Chow before, so we know what they are schematically,” senior linebacker Sean Westgate said.
Neuheisel and Chow may not have many meetings left with Neuheisel’s job status in question and Chow being in his 60s, but Neuheisel insists there’s no animosity from his end.
“Norm’s resume speaks for itself with respect to his ability to coach,” said Neuheisel, adding that he wished him luck with the Utes.
Just not on Saturday.
“I’m happy that they’re having some success,” Neuheisel said. “I would just like for it to stall for one particular day and then wish him well the rest of the time.”