Chow speaks graciously on leaving UCLA

by gbruin on Jan 23, 2011 3:09 AM PST

Norm Chow's spoke with ESPN reporter Ramona Shelburne yesterday and the conversation is detailed on ESPN's UCLA Report. It is worth the read, as it should make Bruin fans feel quite a bit better over the recent chaos surrounding the coaching rearrangements.

In the interview, Chow speaks highly of Rick Neuheisel assisting in his transition and of their relationship while working together at UCLA.

"It worked out just perfectly," he said. "Rick [Neuheisel] did a nice job with [facilitating his exit at UCLA]. ... "Rick and I are friends. I feel like we worked very very well together and it's just unfortunate that the results didn't show that."

Chow also shares our disappointment over the lack of success during his time at UCLA.

Was [Chow] disappointed to be leaving UCLA before turning the Bruins program around?

"We're disappointed it didn't turn out the way we hoped it would, but it wasn't because of a lack of effort or a lack of teamwork," he said.

You can read the entire article here.

The best news out of this is that Chow makes it sound like this was an amicable and mutual parting, which makes Neuheisel's comments and behavior in recent days look better. This also validates the recent suggestions on Bruins Nation here and here that these coaching moves were agreed upon by the parties involved, and it was administrative issues that led to the embarassingly public appearance that UCLA was completely mismanaging the coaching situation.

With Randy Shannon in town to interview for the defensive coordinator position, hopefully the Bruins can finally lock down their 2011 coaching staff, and after an excessively bumpy ride of late, can start looking to the future again. Signing Day is 10 days away.

This is a FanPost and does not necessarily reflect the views of BruinsNation's (BN) editors. It does reflect the views of this particular fan though, which is as important as the views of BN's editors.

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Comments

Agree that this could all fall into place nicely with a Shannon hire.

WRT CNC, I could tell a few times last season that there was some tension, notwithstanding the positive statements today. I remember two quotes by CNC where he was asked a tough post game question and brusquely replied, “You’ll have to ask the head coach.” Another time, when asked about CRN’s comments, he replied; “He said what?” Maybe I am reading to muhc into this, but that was the impression I got. But, both CRN and CNC are class acts so I am glad they are playing nice. That having been said, I am sure CNC has circled November 12 on his calendar.

Really hope the interview goes well today and that Randy Shannon becomes the new DC. It would be a great hire in so many ways: great recruiter; great DC; great fit for the school character wise.

by orlandobruin on Jan 23, 2011 3:44 AM PST reply actions

We need a Randy watch at Morgan Center.

or a countdown on BN. Commence finger crossing!

The best thing you can do for your children is to love their mother. John Wooden

by MexiBruin on Jan 23, 2011 5:57 AM PST up reply actions

One thing to keep in mind

Chow is notorious for being blunt. Quotes like those you provided would seem to be rather harsh or pointed coming from practically anyone else, but it’s something I more or less have come to expect out of Chow. There may well have been tension. Hell, I’d say there probably was, as there likely is on any staff that isn’t winning, but I’m not sure quotes like that are necessarily indicative of that in this case.

by Tydides on Jan 23, 2011 10:06 AM PST up reply actions

CRN referred to the 'chemistry not being right' in the old coaching staff

when introducing Johnson as the new OC. I would guess CRN and CNC had some fairly strong differences in opinion and then had to come to some unsatisfying compromises for both guys.

by britishbruin on Jan 23, 2011 10:25 AM PST up reply actions

I'd venture

That such differences of opinion would come from how much of the pistol is reasonable to run in the first year of running it. Clearly Nevada’s version of it is far more dynamic than ours, and it all can’t be attributed to the quarterback thing.

by Tydides on Jan 23, 2011 12:45 PM PST up reply actions

However

It was a pretty big failure considering the fact that the coaching staff ventured into an offense that didn’t match the personnel, but even if it remotely did, the QB’s and WR’s weren’t in sync, or prepared enough to run it successfully. And surprisingly, Nevada’s look is pretty similar to ours, except for the fact that the execute and have a rhythm, and can run the option plays (veer and triple) without throwing the ball away. Whatever Johnson and Neuheisel decide to do next year, preparation and execution are key with enough talent to accomplish our goals.

by Josh Schlichter on Jan 23, 2011 1:48 PM PST up reply actions

Given your experience

What would you do with this team next year? Is switching back to pro set just throwing away last year’s experience with another system?

by Tydides on Jan 23, 2011 2:27 PM PST up reply actions

I would leave it to Johnson

His bit about building an offense that fits the personnel (i.e., potentially elite receivers, experienced dynamic, deep running back corps) is pretty accurate. Whether Hundley is “that good,” really can shape the offseason. If he is, you can go with Pistol, Spread, or even Pro if you would want to, but if you have Prince or Brehaut take the lead, then you can make an offense that fits them. Really comes down to how the QB shapes up.

by Josh Schlichter on Jan 23, 2011 2:34 PM PST up reply actions

The fact that we brought in Hundley

Should allow us multiple looks, whereas Bre or Prince might be more limited. I think we could run some pistol, shotgun, pro set, etc. and Hundley could run them all.

by OswegoBruin on Jan 23, 2011 9:54 PM PST up reply actions

Keep in mind

He is a Freshman. And we know what experience does for a team, especially with a Jr or Sr QB at the helm. There’s a good chance he may be the best QB on the roster, but saying that he is less limited than Prince or Brehaut is really just on paper- even though those two may be the worst QB’s in the conference, you can’t just assume that Hundley is going to be the savior either

by Josh Schlichter on Jan 23, 2011 11:13 PM PST up reply actions

In no way am I insinuating that he's a savior

And I really dislike how that’s become Hundley’s buzzword.

I think he’s far more talented than Brehaut or Prince, physically. Whether he is able to play the game mentally remains to be seen, on the field. I think the biggest problem we’ve experienced as a team at the QB position has been severe lack of talent. Prince could not throw, Brehaut could not run, so teams stacked the box and locked down receivers, respectively. Hundley, at very least, makes them respect both aspects.

by OswegoBruin on Jan 25, 2011 1:10 AM PST up reply actions

Yes

I can’t wait to see how he develops in the offseason, but still, we don’t know if Hundley is going to demand respect, and we don’t know until we see him at Spaulding- or better yet in Houston on September

by Josh Schlichter on Jan 25, 2011 4:07 PM PST up reply actions

I prefer to call him

THE savior, not A savior.

by britishbruin on Jan 26, 2011 11:32 AM PST up reply actions

Nice

by Josh Schlichter on Jan 26, 2011 9:04 PM PST up reply actions

I don't think it was a failure

We actually had our most productive offense in the 3 years under Chow last year.

We had a legit running game, which we did not have in the first two seasons.

Looking at the Oline we had, I think it was the best decision for the players we had, not a mistake at all.

by silverlakebruin on Jan 24, 2011 8:27 AM PST up reply actions

It was the most productive under chow

But unproductive none the less- we had a decent running game (we could only run against Decent to Poor Defensive teams) a sporadic rhythm and extremely poor passing game. The offense matched the personell in ever position except for QB, the essential position in the Pistol.

by Josh Schlichter on Jan 24, 2011 9:24 AM PST via mobile up reply actions

You are saying the offense didn't match the personnel

what type of offense do you think would have worked better with our players? If that decision was a failure, what would have produced better results in your mind? If you think it was the wrong decision, what would have been the right decision?

I think they had a personnel problem a position coaching problem, and an execution problem. I don’t see any of those being resolved with retaining the old offense.

by silverlakebruin on Jan 24, 2011 10:08 AM PST up reply actions

In hindsight

I think that the neglect of the QB’s in the offseason because of the switch to the Pistol was a major blunder, not just by Chow, but by Neuheisel as well.

I shouldn’t have said that the offense didn’t match the personnel, I should have just said that we didn’t have either developed quarterbacks, or perfectly fit QB’s (Prince was quick, but still not the most fleet-footed, mobile QB in the world) for the system.

The best offense would have been an offense that minded the QB. Whether it was the Pistol, or the Pro set, the offense needed to improve on both counts. That being said, i’m happy an ambiguous coach like Johnson is throwing things into the mix now, because we have a load of QB’s who can match many systems, along with Tailbacks and Receivers that can fit different systems as well.

by Josh Schlichter on Jan 24, 2011 4:28 PM PST up reply actions

What a classy guy, that Norm Chow.

For my part, I’ll always be dissapointed he didn’t get to light some fireworks with our QBs the way he did every where else he went. I have nothing but respect for Norm, and wish him the very best of luck at Utah. Given their current situation, I’m sure he’ll make an instant impact much to our regret.

The best thing you can do for your children is to love their mother. John Wooden

by MexiBruin on Jan 23, 2011 5:56 AM PST reply actions

Agree.

He won me over with his tenure in westwood. class all the way. i’m sure it was not easy for a guru like him to be asked to go back to school and have to lean a new system. no doubt he will be a monster in utah when he has a free reign on the O. that’s quite a coaching duo they’ve got there as well. can only wish him the best of luck. he deserves it.

by mdwstbruin on Jan 23, 2011 11:07 AM PST up reply actions