No fireworks between Neuheisel, Chow
SALT LAKE CITY -
All the pregame hype about the reunion of UCLA head coach Rick Neuheisel and Utah offensive coordinator Norm Chow culminated in a simple hug at the end of Neuheisel's press conference following a 31-6 Utah win on Saturday night at Rice-Eccles Stadium.
The highly publicized divorce, which dragged out for more than a month and resulted in UCLA buying out the last year of Chow's contract, was much more intense.
Instead, Chow sought out Neuheisel as the UCLA coach was walking out of the special post-game tent, and they shared a brief moment, upon which Chow exited the stadium and Neuheisel headed into the locker room.
No upstaging. No trash talk. Just the congratulations that Neuheisel whispered into Chow's ear.
"We had lots of good conversations about quarterbacking and pass offense and I enjoyed that banter," Neuheisel said of the relationship between the two during Chow's three-year tenure at UCLA. "I learned from him. Whether or not he learned from me, you would have to ask him but I don't think the reason we didn't have as much success was at all because of a rift between Norm and I."
Chow, who refused to discuss the situation with the media this week, won the scoreboard battle but lost in total yardage, as UCLA outgained Utah 295-291. Chow had the benefit of running back John White IV, though, and his 167 yards rushing and three total touchdowns.
UCLA junior quarterback Kevin Prince, who grew close with Chow during their time together, lamented the separation, which seemed inevitable after the Bruins struggled in the Pistol offense in Chow's last season.
"The pistol wasn't Coach Chow's forte, and I hadn't been healthy a lot, so it's tough to say what would've been," Prince said. "After my freshman year, I definitely thought that the sky was the limit in terms of the way we threw the ball. But the way it's turned out with the things I've been through has been a valuable lesson to me and made me a better football player and I think a better person."
Chow learned that Utah offense from me. Who is this wesel of westwood guy impersonating me?
Kevin Prince actually believes he's now 'a better football player and I think a better person.' Self-delusion runs rampant in the Bruin camp.
WSU 37 ASU 27 Bruins back in the driver's seat.
Connor Halliday is UCLA's MVP.
bruins fan = delusional
Get lost Rockyseto. I have this job and once we win the next two, five year contract extension.
Neu's ego ran Chow out. Everywhere Chow has been, he's had a successful offense. Even this year, with the starting QB out for the season, he still makes the offense go.
But at UCLA, he was shackled by Prince's injuries and Neu's refusal to have open competitions. He and Neu put their eggs in one basket with Prince, and KP failed them.
And you know the Pistol debacle had to be Neu's idea. Chow was being the good soldier and trying to make it work but you spend 30 years doing a pro offense, it's hard to know the nuances of a glorified option offense in less than a year.
Neu has kept the same players in rotation and changed all the coaches and still the same bad results. I can't wait for him and his starters to be swept out of position.