Chow and Leach interested in ucla?

by Paragon SC on Nov 27, 2007 3:32 PM PST in USC Football Comment 5 comments

Interesting.

Bruce Feldman has the story, though it's on the pay side of ESPN.com

Here is a taste:

Sources close to Texas Tech coach Mike Leach say he'd be thrilled to come to Westwood and take over the Bruin program. Leach loves Southern California and went to law school here at Pepperdine.

Leach's biggest competitor for the job ultimately could be QB guru Norm Chow.

A source close to the Tennessee Titans assistant said that Chow really wants the job.

I say fine to either one though I think Leach would have the inside track because of his head coaching experience.

There are questions with both. Chow's lack of head coaching experience, rumors are he doesn't interview well. Chow also makes abut 1.2 Million so ucla would be a pay cut.

And at least to me, Leach's ability to win especially in a less than stellar Big 12 where he looks to have been out recruited by Texas and Oklahoma, that is strictly my opinion as I write this. I will look it up later and correct it if I'm wrong.

As they say, developing...

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I can't get past the fact...

that Leach went to Pepperdine Law. Seriously?

by DC Trojan on Nov 27, 2007 3:46 PM PST reply actions 0 recs

It kind of makes sense...

that there are those two aspects to Leach.

On one hand, you've got the cutthroat, merciless, hedonistic side of him, thinking only of his own benefit, seeking to plunder whatever, whenever, and whenever he can, willing to stab anyone in the back, and answering only to those willing and able to pay for his services.

And on the other hand, he's also a pirate.

by Boy Howdy on Nov 27, 2007 4:08 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

I think Chow could do well

He certainly wouldn't have any trouble recruiting multiple top notch QB's which has been a problem in Westwood since Cade McKnown. From what I've read, it seems that the consensus is that Chow is too old, and lacks head coaching experience. But maybe its the bruins just not giving another minority a fair shake(kidding).

by frak on Nov 27, 2007 4:03 PM PST reply actions 0 recs

UCLA's QB problems...

...started after JP Losman skipped town leaving Cory "Can't Throw a Pass" Paus as the starter. However, Drew Olson was one of the best QBs in the country in 2005 and IMO may have deserved an invitation to New York (certainly as much as Leinart did).

The biggest problem has been consistent depth. This year, UCLA's starter was an All-American in high school, but the backups were each two stars. In 2005, the backup was a sophomore, who hadn't played a down of football in 4 years (or so). In 2004, the backup was a transfer from SMC. From 2000-2002 the starter was Paus, so obviously the backup sucked. 2003 was the only recent year where the backup was average, though in that year the starter was too.

by SuperBruinMan on Nov 27, 2007 7:50 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

agree

ucla hasn't recruited enough quality QB's and it bit them during KD's coaching tenure. Losing Matt Moore was all Dorrell's fault. This year he essentially put the success of the whole offense on Ben Olson's shoulders, with no plan if Olson didn't perform well, or was injured. The double whammy has been that Olson has underperformed in most of the games, and also been injured for more than half the year. It was actually painful to watch Ben Olson get creamed at Utah in the later minutes for no good reason.

Norm Chow doesn't need to sell himself as a QB guru. ucla would have the top QB's in the nation showing up on campus without an invitation to be evaluated by Chow.

I don't see how Chow would be a bad choice when it comes to the football side of the head coaching job. The public relations side of the gig is where Norm isn't going to be as good. If you want Chow, you'll get an excellent X's & O's guy, and a QB magnet, but thats about it.

I would like to see someone give Norm a chance as a head coach. I don't think ucla will be the school that goes out on a limb with Norm because of their woes with KD. If you look at Norm's record, he has left every team he has worked for better than he found them.

by frak on Nov 27, 2007 9:21 PM PST reply actions 0 recs