Neuheisel's Magic

by Nestor on Jan 21, 2008 6:31 PM PST in Football

I don't need to say a lot of nice things about Coach Neuheisel at this point. I think I wrote enough during those days leading up to his hire, when we were making the case about why we thought he was the right fit for our university.

That said, I think the recruiting of Norm Chow really shows what is so special about Coach Neuheisel. Guess who CRN teamed up with to recruit CRN to Westwood: none other than DeWayne Walker. From Rich Perelman in What's Bruin (emphasis added throughout):

Neuheisel said it was a recruiting visit like any other, but at a higher level. He and Walker went to Chow's home last Friday and Saturday night and discussed the possibilities with Chow and his family. Walker played a crucial role.

"I think it was important the two guys knew each other," said Neuheisel. "The question was just asked whether Norm was considering taking a year off and certainly after the rigors of an NFL season, and the length of time Norm was away from his family, that had to be alluring. But DeWayne and I had forged a relationship here in the last few weeks, one of trust, one of mutual admiration, and I had DeWayne get involved in the process of talking to Norm because of their relationship.

"And to let everyone know, this is going to be an ego-less thing. The three of us are going to be partners, partners in a start-up company that has a huge, huge upside. We're going to share and commiserate equally and together. That's what I sold. DeWayne and I went over to Norm's house, and just like you'd go over to your blue-chip recruit's, and in his living room, we shared the vision with his family. It was a really special time, because Norm obviously a very devout family man. Family is critical to him. Family is critical to me. And to DeWayne as well. And we're going to create our own family, one built on trust. And I just think the sky's the limit on where this partnership can go."

I have to tell you even a cynic like me is a little bit floored by that story. It is amazing to see how CRN, despite the concerns about how he was going to be able to work with someone from the previous regime, has been able to so seamlessly get everyone involved in building this program. It is incredibly refreshing and we have to give big ups to Coach Walker for working with CRN to make this happen.

Also, for those who are concerned about how CRN and Chow will be able to work together given CRN's offensive background:

"Norm is the offensive coordinator," said Neuheisel. "Norm is going to be the play caller. And I'm going to be an ally to him. I've been an offensive coach for a long time. The great thing when we sat down and went over the parameters of the relationship, Norm said, `I want your input.'

"You don't have to look very far in the statistics to find out that this guy can call plays, and that this guy can diagram an offense. What we want is to make sure everyone participates in the UCLA offense, feels appreciated. If anyone in college football has done it better I'm not aware of it."

Chow concurred: "Let me say this, too. I'm not looking, and never have been, someone who needs power or control. When you coordinate an offense, the word means a lot. You put everybody's thoughts together.

"Together, collectively, when you see a team do well, it will be UCLA. It won't be Norm Chow, or DeWayne Walker or Bob Palcic. It will be UCLA and the head coach Rick Neuheisel."

Oh if you think we are taking all this a little too far and sound overly excited, then I give you Ben Olson:

To say that Bruin quarterback Ben Olson is excited to have Norm Chow as UCLA's new offensive coordinator is an understatement.

"I'm going to find out where he lives and go deliver some flowers to him," he said in a conference call with reporters this afternoon. "I'd be lying if I didn't say it's given me an added boost not only in confidence as a player, but also in the coaching staff and as far as my desire and my drive to play the game. Having a chance to work with Coach Chow and what he brings to the table, knowing that he has developed a lot of different quarterbacks, it's nothing but exciting for me and I can't wait to work with him. I'm going to come into spring ball in the greatest shape of my life and ready to go."

Olson and Chow aren't strangers; they met with Olson was a teenager. "I probably met Coach Chow when I was 13 or something like that. I went up to his summer camp, the BYU football camp when he was on staff there when I was just a little youngster. He recruited me at USC and developed our relationship even further there. He's just a great man and a great football coach.

"I always wanted to play for Coach Chow and things didn't quite work out at USC. I looked at USC twice - when I came out of high school and then when I got back from my mission. I always wanted to play for Coach Chow, I'd be lying if I didn't say that. I consider myself very lucky to have the opportunity to learn from the best and I'm going to make the most of the opportunity and work my hardest to do what he asks me to do.

"I can't remember when I was this excited about football."

You are not alone Ben. You and thousands of others - alums, students, fans - who have waited to feel this way for a long, long time.

Yes, I know we have a long way to go.

Yes, I know next year is going to be difficult. I believe we are going to struggle to win 7 games next season given our brutal schedule (remember, even with Chow and Palmer, Pom Pom won only 6 games in his first season).

Yet, you can't blame this place for being filled with a little joy. We haven't had this much hope and optimism around UCLA football in more than a decade.

It's magic and we wouldn't be experiencing this if Dan Guerrero and Gene Block hadn't made the right call following the departure of Karl Dorrell.

GO BRUINS.

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Amen

Big ups to Neu, Walker, Guerrero and Block. Really exciting times.

by Menelaus on Jan 21, 2008 7:26 PM PST reply actions

Yea

There were three finalists for the HC job - CRN, Chow, and Walker. Not only did CRN get the job, but he managed to keep Walker on board AND get Chow! The two guys he beat for the job!

That should say it all. How many other coaches could do this? Has this ever happened in the history of coaching? It's stunning.

After Training Jay and the debacle that was the WCO it is almost too good to be true. If Walker can keep developing as a DC and build a defense that plays at a 13-9 level almost every game, we are in for a great great few years.

by njbruin on Jan 21, 2008 7:28 PM PST reply actions

Were Walker and Chow really interviewed for HC?

I think I read this here on BN - maybe DG knew all along that RN was going to be the new HC and the interviews with DW and NC were for the DC and OC positions, never for HC.

by mark the bruin on Jan 21, 2008 7:47 PM PST up reply actions

Yes

They were. I don't know how close they were to getting the job, but I do think DG took the interviews seriously. As in, they were serious contenders for getting the job at one point or another.

by njbruin on Jan 21, 2008 8:02 PM PST up reply actions

What a difference

Remember the last OC we hired? Nobody heaved a sigh of relief when we signed Norvell. With the exception of maybe Rye and McCloskey and three or four guys in Lincoln, nobody in the world had ever heard of Norvell. Frankly, I was shocked because I thought CTS had hired Deborah Norville, who although kind of cute was not really known as an offensive genius.

Last year the world yawned when CTS made his blockbuster deal.

But this year is different. CTS is gone. A real coach is in place. Things are happening. The idiots across town have dozens of blogs up and running, and their collective panties are getting bunched.

I could care less what justsc thinks about who we hire and who we fire. But seeing the optimism in the writings of all my Bruin brothers and sisters takes a little sting off the debacle at Pauley.

What a difference from a year ago.

by Fox 71 on Jan 21, 2008 8:41 PM PST reply actions

Of course I could be wrong

but I think that BO will not be UCLA's starting quarterback next year.

by jjreicher on Jan 21, 2008 9:10 PM PST reply actions

Dr Chow?

I fully expect BO to benefit from Chow's presence . . . but that still doesn't change the fact that dude has a glass body. It would really be impressive if Chow is able to transplant Cowan's heart into Ben's body without killing them both.

by charnaw on Jan 21, 2008 9:20 PM PST reply actions

BO isn't the only QB with injury problems...

Our entire QB depth chart was ravaged last year with injuries. I think it has a lot less to do with BO's glass body as it had to do with the ridiculously awful protection any of our QBs had in the pocket. I don't think it had anything to do with lack of talent either. The schemes were awful and I believe that Chow and CRN will help put a stop to that.

by sfatoo on Jan 21, 2008 9:49 PM PST up reply actions

100% Inaccurate

No QB can be healthy or consistently effective without the hogs up front. BO does not have a glass body. Go ask some Bama fans how happy they were to get rid of Connelly and how healthy their QB's were. The man got Brodie Croyle killed. Our offensive system didn't help BO out either.

BO has plenty of heart. Just because his "style" of play is not like Cowan does not mean he lacks "heart". Does anyone question Eli's "heart" because he isn't demonstrative? He's like Eli in that they don't get too emotional. It takes plenty of "heart" to sit back in the pocket getting crushed play after play and game after game under our ineffective offense & matador protection.

You are not being fair to BO. My only regret is that we'll never truly see his full potential because BO will only have 1 yr with Chow while Palmer had 2.

by BlueReign on Jan 21, 2008 11:08 PM PST up reply actions

Agree Completely

When BO started out, people called him "SPJ". I never liked the name, but understood the emotion.

His fall from grace was not his own.

Lousy game plans and lousy blocking. Leaving him in lost-cause- games too long. None of that was his fault.

I didn't know that he had a prior Chow connection that goes back to when he was 13.

I said elsewhere that I was pleased for BO, that this hire would give him the chance at greatness that he deserves.

Yes, there are some good QB's on the roster, and all will get great coaching from NC, but I wouldn't count BO out.

sjh

by Class of 66 on Jan 22, 2008 4:12 AM PST up reply actions

Actually it is Dr. Chow

Norm has a PhD in educational psychology.

by makenji on Jan 22, 2008 11:39 PM PST up reply actions

A poorly coached OL and offense.

C'mon. Both Olsen and Cowan got beat up in this system. Punctured lung, anyone?

Not very good protection to begin with and then an offense that wasn't good at getting guys open so whoever was the QB couldn't get rid of the ball fast enough.

All of our QBs got hit a lot and that adds up to a lot of wear and tear.

by Chandler on Jan 23, 2008 1:14 AM PST up reply actions

my passion bucket is offically full

wow...i'm speechless. as a ucla alum i've never been excited about ucla football. i've always had to resort to "ucla's a basketball school". but after chow's hiring, my pb is offically overflowing. i was already thrilled about neuheisel. in his first couple weeks alone he made an appearance at the chick fil a bowl, the rose bowl, colin cowherd (espn radio), steve mason (espn radio), dan patrick (coining passion bucket), and even sent out that phone message to all ucla alum. then he retains walker, and adds moore and palcic. now with chow, i'm ready to go volunteer my services as a towel boy or whatever they need. go bruins!!!

by CSon on Jan 21, 2008 10:11 PM PST reply actions

Kobe's on board too

At the end of tonight's Lakers victory over Denver on TNT tonight, Kobe's first words to Cheryl Miller were: "We came out with a full passion bucket tonight."

by insomniacslounge on Jan 21, 2008 11:04 PM PST up reply actions

Rick N is the King of LA Media

Without having coached a single game. Rick is in everyone's head, whether they're aware of it or not.

by Tydides on Jan 21, 2008 11:51 PM PST up reply actions

You'd almost think he'd been planning this...

...for a while.

by Chandler on Jan 23, 2008 1:16 AM PST up reply actions

defense offense

Even though we will lose a lot of seniors on defense, hopefully a better offensive game plan will lead to more time of possession. IMHO, our defense is good and probably got tired since we were getting killed on time of possession.

as of BO, with a better game plan, he should be able to do better. We ll see in training camp.

by 8994 on Jan 22, 2008 12:28 AM PST reply actions

I hope this finally puts to rest the idea

that DW is not doing his absolute best to make UCLA the best college football program in America.

I am very pleased that CRN is able to create a space for top notch talented coordinators to feel comfortable and excel. This is what a head coach should be doing. This is what leadership is: helping those who work for you be as successful as they can be. CRN has been perfect to date both in vision and execution of the vision.

Further, props to Dan Guerrero, who with replacing KD with RN, SL with BH, and Adams with Savage has shown he may be the premier AD in college athletics.

"when you've seen how big the world is, how can you make due with this?"

by silverlakebruin on Jan 22, 2008 7:40 AM PST reply actions

Coach Rick

I said it before he was hired.
I said it after he was hired.
I say it again, don't under estimate Coach Rick.
The coacjing team he has put together is fantastic and who could have believed except us that believe in UCLA.

by Blue Critter on Jan 22, 2008 7:31 PM PST reply actions