Adams: NFL just a layover on return to beach for Chow

Photo by Ric Francis

Offensive coordinator Norm Chow, right, works with UCLA quarterback Kevin Craft during an Aug. 21 football practice. Chow was offensive coordinator for the Tennessee Titans before joining the UCLA staff.

LOS ANGELES - UCLA offensive coordinator Norm Chow had the NFL figured out before he ever coached a game there. That's why he didn't sell his house in Manhattan Beach, Calif.

"I knew I wouldn't be in the NFL long," said Chow, who lasted three years as the Tennessee Titans offensive coordinator. "The NFL is not for long."

So why bother, you might ask. Chow already had established himself as one of the game's preeminent offensive gurus - a reputation he earned in his 27 seasons as a BYU assistant and in shorter stints at N.C. State and Southern Cal.

"It was the challenge of the NFL," he said. "I had a lot of opportunities, but that sounded like something that would be exciting. And it was."

It also was difficult. In the process, Chow discovered what head coaches Steve Spurrier, Nick Saban and Bobby Petrino did in their brief flings with the NFL. He truly loves college football.

He also loves the beach.

"I never moved (from California)," Chow said. "I stayed in a hotel (in Nashville) for three years. It was one of those Springhill Suites."

Even if he had been interested in moving, his wife wasn't.

"My wife said, 'Go coach anywhere you want. I'll come to the games, and you can come home. But I'm not leaving.' "

Chow missed more than the beach in Nashville. His creativity suffered within the confinements of the pro game.

"It was hard to do some things you wanted to do," he said. "There were too many restrictions in what you were trying to get done, in being able to be creative."

The Titans-Chow union wasn't a total washout. Quarterback Vince Young was rookie of the year in 2006 and the team made the playoffs last season.

"For whatever reason (he wasn't asked back after last season)," Chow said. "I still haven't been told why."

The NFL's loss was UCLA's gain. The hiring of Chow was a coup for new coach Rick Neuheisel, and not just because of their shared offensive creativity. Chow's name gives you instant credibility in recruiting an offensive player, especially a quarterback.

Chow was an assistant coach on BYU's national championship team and USC's back-to-back national championship teams in 2003-04. He also coached three Heisman Trophy winning quarterbacks - Ty Detmer at BYU, and Carson Palmer and Matt Leinhart at Southern Cal. Other quarterbacks on the Chow resume include Steve Young, Jim McMahon and Phillip Rivers (at N.C. State).

Not surprisingly, UCLA has a commitment from one of the top quarterbacks in California, Richard Brehaut of Rancho Cucamonga Los Osos.

The current quarterbacking situation isn't as promising. Starter Patrick Cowan suffered a season-ending knee in the spring. Ben Olson, who had 10 career starts, reinjured his foot in preseason drills and will miss at least the first half of the season.

The attrition left junior college transfer Kevin Craft as UCLA's starter for Monday night's season opener against Tennessee.

"It's a huge challenge here," Chow said, referring to the rebuilding job as well as the quarterback situation. "The reason Rick gets this job is because the guy that was here before (Karl Dorrell) didn't get it done. I know him personally and like the guy. But he didn't get it done."

Chow likely will have a huge say in whether Neuheisel gets it done. But no matter how much the Bruins achieve, at the end of the day Chow has - in a best-case traffic scenario - only a 20-minute drive to his home.

And once home, the beach is waiting.

Sports editor John Adams may be reached at 865-342-6284 or adamsj@knoxnews.com.