re: Who does Les hire to replace Crowton?

The way things are looking over in Lee County Alabama I might make a call and see if Gus wants to hop on the bus. He may be looking for a way out of that scene.

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It seems like the consensus is that we want Leach as #1 and Dana as #2. I definitely like that lineup.

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id take either in a heartbeat....and id def throw all the money i could at either one....you get either one of those guys you win a NT next year...only problem is neither would stick around long with the success they will have here...

dana.

If Les hired Holgersen I'd be extremely giddy about next season.

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UCLA dominated the second half to beat Temple 30-21 in the EagleBank Bowl on Tuesday, but a big question hangs over the victory: What direction will the Bruins struggling offense take going forward?

In other words: Will offensive coordinator Norm Chow return in 2010?

T.J. Simers of the LA Times asked Chow that very question after the bowl game and didn't get a clear answer.

His answer, nothing but a smile after the bowl win, and when the question was repeated, Chow said, "Check back next week."

Hmm. Chow was a little more chatty here, but he hardly closed the door on the notion that he might not return in 2010.

Couple of notable issues here.

First, Chow and head coach Rick Neuheisel had different takes on the Bruins quarterback situation this season. Chow was all-in with redshirt freshman Kevin Prince. Neuheisel wanted to see more of true freshman Richard Brehaut.

Neuheisel never hid that there was a difference of opinion but he also insisted there was no rift between the two.

There's another issue: Money. UCLA is not known for handing out big money to coaches, particularly assistant coaches. And Chow will cost the Bruins if he comes back in 2010.

Neuheisel was able to hire Chow in 2008 because of some creative negotiating. When UCLA hired Chow, he was due $1 million over each of the next two years -- 2008 and 2009 -- from the Tennessee Titans, who fired him after he'd signed a two-year contract extension. Chow's base salary with UCLA his first two seasons was a manageable $250,000 plus a $50,000 talent fee.

But Chow's three-year contract with UCLA was backloaded because of his Titans contract, which deducted his UCLA salary but paid him the remainder of his $1 million annual salary. In 2010, his deal with the Titans over, Chow is due a $140,000 talent fee as well as a $250,000 retention bonus on top of his base salary.

That retention bonus will be paid to Chow on the first day of spring practices, according to a 2008 report on the contract in the Los Angeles Daily News.

So, for whatever reason, if Chow doesn't return to UCLA this spring, the school will save $250,000, though it obviously will have to pay off the final year of Chow's contract if he is terminated.

Simers, however, throws out an intriguing scenario. There's a certain school across town that hasn't won a national championship since Chow left.

How's this for a devilish thought? Would USC try to bring Chow back, thereby appeasing irritated Trojans fans unhappy with the play-calling, while heightening the tension between UCLA and USC?

"That'd be interesting," Chow said with another grin.

Again, hmm.

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You want an OC who could coach QB's? Here's one for ya.

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You want an OC who could coach QB's? Here's one for ya.

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UCLA's offense rankings under Chow:



2010:

Total Offense - 101st
Scoring Offense - 93rd


2009:

Total Offense - 88th
Scoring Offense - 94th


2008:

Total Offense - 111th
Scoring Offense - 109th

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Chow served as BYU's offensive coordinator from 1982 to 1999, during which time he helped coach the Cougars to their only national title in 1984, which is also the last time a non-BCS school (sometimes called a mid-major) won the NCAA Division I FBS (then I-A) national championship. The BYU Cougars scored 30 or more points in 106 of 181 games. He then left BYU for a short stint as the offensive coordinator at NC State, before accepting the position of offensive coordinator at the University of Southern California.

In 23 seasons as an offensive coordinator, Chow coached 8 of the top 14 career passing-efficiency leaders, and 13 quarterbacks who rank among the top 30 in NCAA history for single-season passing yardage. His list of pupils include: Steve Young; Philip Rivers; Robbie Bosco; and, Heisman Trophy winners Ty Detmer, Carson Palmer, and Matt Leinart.

Chow helped lead the Trojans to the 2003 Associated Press (sportswriters' poll) National Championship, (their first national title since 1978), and the 2004 BCS National Championship.

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Having been dealt a hand with Kevin Craft and injury prone Ben Olson as his starting QB's didn't help. Now there is conflict with the head coach over Prince or Brehaut to start at QB. His resume is pretty impressive with the number of QB's he has developed. I wouldn't mind seeing what he could do with QB's such as Mettenberger, Brisset, or Bridgewater. Hell, he helped develop Stephen Rivers' big bro. That is intriguing enough to me knowing lil bro will be in an LSU uniform.

Has to be a great QB developer, which is one thing that is for sure.

Honestly, I wouldn't mind LSU getting rid of Emsminger, keeping Crowton and bringing in Major Applewhite as QB coach, but I know that won't get a lot of support around here. Les could coach the TEs since he's done it in the NFL.

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Applewhite is going to be UT's OC next year. easy

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Wouldn't be so sure about that. He's beloved at UT, but they might go out and make a big hire.